Summer International Internship?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>So I have a concern regarding my summer involvement. I am doing a Yale summer program abroad (I attend Yale). It is a biotechnology research internship at the Tec de Monterrey (in Mexico). I'm going because I think international experience is valuable, and I think I can really improve my Spanish (to a level of high proficiency; i've taken the language for 7 years now). </p>

<p>However, many of my pre-med friends are staying in the U.S. and doing hard-core research internships that pay around $4,000. I'm beginning to think that these may be more valuable since the projects are probably more predictable (I don't know what the biotech center is going to assign me), AND the positions are paying really well. (Although I am being paid about 8,000 pesos). </p>

<p>Do you think I would have been better off doing research in the States? Did I make a wise decision to go for the international experience? Here is the description of the internship and the Biotech Center:</p>

<p>Description:<br>
Student will participate in research activities for the recently constructed state-of-the-art Biotechnology Center. The student will work with local graduate students and researchers on their many projects including: drug discovery, stem cell research, and bioreactor operations. </p>

<p>Organization Description:<br>
With new facilities opened in January 2006, and 15 million dollars research infrastructure, the Biotech Center at Tecnol</p>

2

<p>Who cares what everyone else thinks? If it sounds interesting and worthwhile to you, then it’s a good activity. You’re a college student now. You don’t need someone to pat you on the head.</p>

3

<p>I’m not concerned with what everyone else thinks (because the source of my apprehension is…myself); I’m concerned with what the Med Schools would think/consider valuable.</p>

<p>My question is essentially: which is more valuable, a strong U.S. internship or an international internship?</p>

4

<p>Whichever one you learn more from and can explain better. EC’s are valuable insofar as they make a difference in essays and interviews.</p>

5

<p>Why the heck would med schools care if you did research in Mexico or in the US? They care about the quality of that research and about the experience you gained. Hence, if it sounds like something you’d learn from, then great. </p>

<p>It’s almost June. No matter what we tell you, you’ll be going to Mexico. It’s too late to get another internship. If the $3200 means that much to you, you should’ve signed up for another internship. Have fun on the trip and quit worrying about things you no longer have any control over.</p>