<p>I'm a college sophomore, but wanted to post this thread in the parents' forum because I figured you all would have more of the life experience and perspective I'm looking for. </p>
<p>Next year, I'll be doing study abroad for both the fall and spring semesters, taking classes in an intensive language program. While I'm there, I plan to also volunteer part-time (~20 hrs/wk) in a research laboratory (I'm a bio major with multiple prior research experiences here in the US). I've been in contact with a professor at the school where I'll be taking language classes, and while he's agreed to let me come in provisionally for the first 3 months, he's repeatedly expressed his concern that there are "many better things" I could be doing at this time in my life (i.e. as a college student) that I won't have a chance to do again later, e.g. in graduate school or when I have to hold a real job. </p>
<p>While I understand his caution in a general sort of way, I've been having a hard time thinking of just what those "better things" might be. Do you have any thoughts on what sorts of experiences you can or should really only have as a college student? Personally, I'm not into partying or clubbing at all, and even though I'll be abroad, I don't feel any great compulsion to do tons of touristy things outside of the weekends/breaks because I have studied and traveled in this country before. I just don't know what else I might be giving up or missing out on by devoting 4 hrs in the afternoon to the lab Monday through Friday.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for any insights or advice :)</p>
<p>An intensive language program plus 20 hours per week at the lab isn’t going to leave a lot of time “off.” The professor might be thinking that instead of studying and working most of the time, you should instead try to meet local people your own age, hang out in local cafes, play a sport with the locals, go to some soccer games, explore museums and the rich cultural life offered in many major cities world wide. In other words - integrate. Have fun. Leave some free time for adventure. It’s what youth - and living abroad - should be all about.</p>
<p>carpe diem! This really is the only time in your life when you can seize the moment and not have your life ruled by a rigid schedule and obligations every minute. It doesn’t mean clubbing etc, but just be able to enjoy the life around you at a moments notice. What I remember most about college years are those moments. The impromptu roadtrip to visit friends I’d met at a community service project, or the roadtrip when I ended up working for a presidential candidate before the NH primaries. The spontaneous dinners with friends, the long walks on a beautiful day… These really are things to be open to now.</p>
<p>Perhaps, if you read between the lines, the professor actually means that volunteering 20 hours per week is not a particularly useful scientific experience.</p>
<p>Have to admit that whe I saw the thread title, I thought you meant more along the wild and crazy lines.<br>
Since you feel- at this point- that you’ve had that prior experience, then I completely agree with Katliamom- connect with locals, whether they’re fellow students, faculty/staff or co-workers. I’d travelled a lot and done language study. Then, when we lived abroad for an extended period (a few years older than you, but still footloose,) it was great to make friends, hang out in the ways and places they liked, meet their families, and spend holidays with them and experience many local traditions, some quite odd and enchanting. Will never forget that. You can always go back and do the major cities, major museums. You won’t always have the time in the future to, as she put it, integrate.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies so far. (And replies that aren’t specific to my study-abroad situation are of course appreciated as well!) Re momsquad’s point - yes, I also think that is the case, and I certainly don’t imagine I will be nearly as useful as a grad student; I think it is generous of the professor not to have turned me down in the first place. On the other hand, bio majors at my home university are expected to be able to produce a senior thesis (sometimes of publishable quality) on the basis of 10-20 hrs/wk of research over 1-2 semesters, so I like to think in similar amount of time I’ll be able to learn a decent amount and be more useful than a deadweight. These kinds of things also vary by lab as well, so the provisional nature of his offer makes sense. I suppose that after three months if I decide the lab is not for me, or the professor and grad students are sick of me, we can part ways and I’ll still have 6 months to do other stuff.</p>
<p>To play my own devil’s advocate, does anyone think that working with others in a lab could be another way to “integrate” into the culture/society?</p>
<p>It can be, if you develop social relationships as well as working. Depending on what your lab research is, it can offer perspectives not available at home. But, the joy is in the social aspects. Going to dinner, getting invited to a potluck, getting to join in their off-time activities. Where will you be living? We had relationships with our landlords, the dept secretary invited us home, the clerk and his girlfriend became great friends and we spent many late hours with them. You can also connect with other Americans who then bring you into their local social circle. The idea is to “live the life,” not just plug into the work and study routines.</p>
<p>Well, this might not work for everyone but when my daughter did a semester in Madrid she found herself a Spanish novio (boyfriend). She spoke Spanish quite well and he and his friends spoke almost no English so the entire relationship was conducted in Spanish. She even became proficient at texting in Spanish! He introduced her to Madrid from the eyes of a local and took her to many places she never would have found on her own. It was a true immersion experience. The only negative was that it definitely made it harder to leave at the end of the semester.</p>
<p>Have fun on weekends! Take a train (or bus, or combination of them) to another city or small town. Stay in a youth hostel. Buy bread, cheese, and fruit from markets. Hike, visit museums, and eat pick-up meals on plaza benches or on hillsides.</p>
<p>Hve several minors in area of your personal interests.
Travel only if you are interested in travel. Although it is never cheap, here is your chance to do it on parents’ dime.
Spend time with your friends, they will be gone to various places after college graduation.<br>
Spend time with your family, you might live in different place after college.<br>
Work, most UGs are working
Greek life</p>
<p>I agree with the professor, if you are studying abroad, spend those 20 hours/week you plan to use to volunteer to travel/explore. That will be much more valuable, especially since you already have research experience. Why sit in a lab when you can be out visiting sites, etc. Once you start working you won’t have the freedom to take off months at a time to travel.</p>
<p>I ask because in Germany, for example, people take their hobbies very seriously. </p>
<p>This means that if you have a particular interest, it should be easy to find a group of people who share it and with whom you can spend time in pursuit of it. – it would be a distinctively German thing to do.</p>
<p>I also agree that work in the lab could help you integrate with “the locals.”</p>
<p>^Some people will enjoy travel, while others will enjoy “sitting” in the lab, as it is usuaaly is not “sitting” but learning whole tons outside of academics and is very fascinating for the most. However, my advice is to do both, if possible. You cannot travel for whole 4 years in college. So, you will travel for few months. You can have internship in a lab for 3 -4 years while in UG. It is your personal choice, nobody else’s.</p>
This makes me smile. Perhaps this is an accurate average, but as you probably know from your previous lab experience the 20 hours/week can come all at once or every 2 hours for 7 days straight if you expect to get something publishable from your work. This is just not feasible when you already have a huge time commitment to the language program. Also, “volunteer” often translates as “when it is convenient for me”. By all means take the opportunity to visit and do a bit of work in the lab. If the lab is well funded I suspect you will be working with a very international group, in which case the common language will be English. If you are one of a few native English speakers, expect to be pulled aside by postdocs, grad students and faculty and asked if you can “look over” their manuscript, research report etc. for grammar editing. You will get a good feel for the culture and style of research outside the US, which can help guide your decisions down the road with regard to postdocs and grad school. And don’t underestimate scientists when it come to partying/socializing, they know how to do it with style and class. Bon Voyage!</p>
<p>Most Bio majors do research as most of them at least start (they may not end as such) as pre-meds. Most of pre-meds also travel abroad while they can do so. Although there are some limited opportunities in Med. School. Also, many have minors in arts / languages / others to have a break from very challenging science classes. These is from experience of my D. and people around her.</p>
<p>Think about this: you could be doing those 20 hours a week during research anywhere, but you’re there, in another country. Why? What does that mean to you? Take advantage of being some place different.</p>
<p>"Think about this: you could be doing those 20 hours a week during research anywhere, "
-Realy? I did not know that. It is not easy at all to obtain Research Internship, people usually grab it at the moment they have such an opportuntiy. 20 hrs / week is really not that much at all. You cannot be on a road all the time, it gets boring and tiresome. I believe that it is great and very valuable opportunity that should not be overlooked. Plus it is very unique.</p>
<p>For those who have asked, I am going to Asia (would rather not reveal the exact country). Thanks for the continued advice - there seem to be two sides developing here, and I would tend to agree that there are both pros and cons to working in the lab/not working in the lab. (Fwiw, this particular lab is in a different area than what I’ve worked on before, but I find it extremely interesting. It’s a chance to try something new that might end up being my long-term focus, but I’d be less brave about jumping into it at my home school because then I’d have to give up the lab I currently work for.) I suppose I am hoping that the weekends will still give me enough time to do other cool/fun stuff…</p>