Hey, everyone, I’m a little on the fence about what I should do this coming summer. I will be graduating in May and will be starting college next fall. As of right now, I have three choices all with pros and cons. I can only do ONE.
Here they are:
Three-week-long medical internship in India for students before college
Pros: Could help me to begin building my profile for medical school applications and is possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Cons: It is very expensive and it would be difficult to find the money.
*My mom is really pushing me to do this as it is only possible for me to do it this summer.
Internship with NASA
Pros: Would aid me in getting my dream job of working for NASA, may look good on a profile for medical school, paid
Cons: It is ten weeks long and I would likely not be close to home, could be difficult to obtain
*I may want to do this a tiny bit more than the other two.
Backpacking Europe
Pros: One of my greatest passions is traveling. (Although it might not look good on a resume/ profile it would provide life experience.)
Cons: Would not be an internship.
*My parents are against this but could be talked into it. I'm also worried that if I don't do it this coming summer that I will never get the chance.
Please give me your honest opinions.
Thank you in advance.
Enjoy your last real summer vacation. I’d travel. You have time to build your resume later. Might not have the time to drop everything and go to Europe until much later. Study abroad is an option, but you’re still expected to be enrolled in classes.
@Hamlon I was also toying around with the idea of an immersion program, but I am going to be majoring in Spanish when I do get to college so it wasn’t on one of my favorite options… Also, I did study abroad last summer so I wanted to try something different. That’s a good suggestion though. I’ll try to keep that in mind.
I’m a high school junior, so take my advice with a hefty grain of salt.
If I were you, I would travel. If you’re on this forum, chances are, you’ve worked hard in high school, and as such, you deserve a break after 4 years of grueling work.
Medical schools will most likely not give much weight to an internship from before college. That, coupled with the financial strain, would be a dealbreaker for me. There are better and more expansive opportunities in your collegiate life.
At the end of the day, go with what you feel would be the best for you. My personal advice would be to treat yourself. Take that as what you will.
I second intparent. Get a job, maybe one that you wouldn’t be very proud of. I learned more about people working the drive through window of a fast food place than anywhere else ever in my life. See how the other half lives.
This is a no-brainer. You have earned a break and should enjoy yourself. Many kids go into freshman year burned out from high school. Go and backpack around Europe, but maybe get a part-time job now so you can pay for it.
Hmm, what should I do this summer, @Fishnlines29 ? My choices are: accept Nobel Peace Prize, bring Heisman trophy in for a good polish, or head surgical team for first successful human brain transplant.
@JenJenJenJen You weren’t asking me, but Heisman trophy is out. It would be a toss-up between heading the surgical team and Nobel Peace Prize… Go with Nobel Peace Prize. You can always lead the surgical team next year. Then again, maybe you should scrap that list altogether and go with stop being bitter about the apparent lack of opportunities you have had.
I graduated college in the last century, kid, and my senior got into her ED school. But thanks for adding some humor to the fraught situation for so many other CC users, we appreciate your funnies.