Make Your Internship Count on Your Med School Application

Your Internship Abroad Is More Than a Trip—It's a Story Waiting to Be Told

So, you’ve completed (or are planning) a medical internship—maybe at a busy public hospital in Kenya, or during a summer rotation in Tanzania with Go Elective. You’ve seen real patients, observed complex cases, and gained global health insight.

But now you’re facing your medical school application and wondering:

How do I make my internship actually count?

Admissions committees want more than a travel story. They want to know how your experience shaped your understanding of medicine—and how it makes you a better candidate.

In this guide, we break down how to showcase your internship abroad effectively in your AMCAS, AACOMAS, or TMDSAS application—through your personal statement, activity descriptions, interviews, and letters of recommendation.

Reflect Before You Write

The most powerful applications come from deep reflection, not just activity logs. Ask yourself:

What did I learn about healthcare systems, patients, or myself?
What surprised or challenged me?
How did I grow emotionally or intellectually?
How did the experience affirm (or refine) my decision to become a doctor?

Go-Elective encourages interns to keep journals throughout their program, helping you capture meaningful moments in real time.

Use the AMCAS Work & Activities Section Strategically

The AMCAS application gives you 15 activity slots—and 3 “Most Meaningful” designations. If your internship involved direct clinical observation, public health work, or meaningful mentorship, it should absolutely be listed.

Break your experience into focused categories:

Clinical Shadowing:

“Shadowed physicians in pediatrics, OB/GYN, emergency medicine in a referral hospital in Kenya.”

Community Health:

“Participated in rural outreach programs delivering education on nutrition and sanitation.”

Leadership:

“Led peer discussions and daily debriefs on ethical scenarios during internship.”

✅ You can list one experience in multiple ways if it involved distinct roles. Just avoid redundancy and focus on impact.

Write a Personal Statement That Goes Beyond Travel

A common mistake is making your personal statement sound like a travel blog. Instead, use the internship to demonstrate insight and maturity.

✅ Example narrative:

“During my internship at Coast General Hospital in Mombasa, I stood outside the maternity ward, watching a physician comfort a young mother through labor complications. That moment, equal parts clinical and human, reminded me that medicine is about presence as much as precision.”

Use vivid, specific moments. Not generalizations like “It opened my eyes” or “It made me grateful.” Show, don’t tell.

Secure a Strong Letter of Recommendation (If Possible)

If you developed a close mentoring relationship with a physician during your internship, ask whether they’d be willing to write a letter or co-sign one with a local coordinator.

Provide context:
Your learning goals
Specific contributions
How the internship shaped your academic or career direction

Go Elective students often receive recommendation letters from supervising physicians or program coordinators familiar with their performance.

Talk About It in Your Med School Interview (The Right Way)

When asked in interviews:

“Tell me about a meaningful clinical experience.”
“What’s the most challenging situation you’ve faced in a healthcare setting?”
“What did you learn from working with underserved populations?”

Your internship is your secret weapon—but keep it grounded.

✅ Highlight:

Clinical insight gained (not just that “healthcare is different abroad”)
Communication skills developed in cross-cultural settings
Emotional growth from real patient encounters
Increased motivation or clarified career goals

❌ Avoid:

Romanticizing poverty or hardship
Focusing only on sightseeing or travel
Making yourself the hero of the story

Quantify and Qualify Your Experience

Be specific about what you did:

"Shadowed for 90+ hours across 4 departments"
"Observed over 50 patient consultations in OB/GYN"
"Assisted with 3 community health outreach days in rural villages"
"Completed pre-departure global health training and post-internship reflection workshop"

✅ Details = credibility = impact.

Use the Experience to Strengthen Your Secondary Essays

Many secondaries ask:

“Tell us about a time you worked with a diverse population.”
“How have your experiences prepared you to serve the underserved?”
“What challenges have you faced and how did you respond?”

These are perfect opportunities to pull in anecdotes from your internship. Especially if they involved cultural competence, ethical dilemmas, or patient interaction.

Tie Your Internship to Your Long-Term Goals

Don’t let the experience stand alone—connect it to your future:

Did it spark an interest in rural medicine?
Influence your desire to pursue OB/GYN, infectious disease, or primary care?
Inspire you to seek an MD/MPH or global health concentration?

✅ Med schools love when students show intentionality—not just that you had a great experience, but that it shaped how you plan to serve.

Include Supporting Materials (if allowed)

Some programs let you upload supplementary materials, such as:

Shadowing hour logs
Certificates of completion
Supervisor evaluations
Global health reflections

NOTE:

Go Elective provides official documentation of hours, letters upon request, and detailed placement summaries you can submit.

Be Honest—But Confident

Don’t overstate your role. Admissions committees can spot inflated claims like “assisted with surgeries” or “diagnosed patients.” Instead:

✅ Emphasize what you learned from observing, listening, and reflecting
✅ Be proud of your experience—it’s unique, challenging, and valuable
✅ Be prepared to talk about why you chose this program, and what it taught you

Final Thoughts: Real Experience Sets You Apart—If You Present It Well

Your internship abroad isn't just a story to tell—it's evidence that you're committed to learning, willing to get uncomfortable, and ready to serve diverse patient populations.

With the right reflection and framing, it can become a cornerstone of your med school application—one that admissions committees will remember.

Ready to Build the Experience That Makes You Stand Out?

Go Elective offers pre-med and clinical internships in Kenya and Tanzania with:

✓ Verified shadowing hours
✓ Public hospital placements
✓ Physician mentorship and support

Apply today to start building real experience that matters.