Medical students are the future of healthcare and they go through a lot to get there. They endure stress from their studies, pressure from those around them, and more. There is hope for those who want to study abroad but worry about the extra baggage that comes with it. This blog post will discuss what some people experience as medical students studying abroad and how you can overcome these struggles.
Medical school is tough on its own; add in the stressors of traveling abroad and we have a recipe for disaster! However, do not worry there’s hope!
We will talk about some examples of things that make life difficult as an international medical student in a foreign country on top of all your usual responsibilities like classes, exams, clinical-and then give you tips on how to succeed and not go crazy.
What are the stress medical students studying abroad face?
As a student studying abroad, you are very likely to experience culture shock in some way. Culture shock is a temporary loss of the ability to function normally due to stress from being in an unfamiliar environment
– While it is usually applied to expatriates moving into another country, it can also happen when an individual moves internally in e.g. a student who goes from their hometown to another in their own country.
– They are also likely to experience homesickness
– Medical school is stressful enough on its own, but studying abroad requires extra effort-going through your regular schedule in a country that you’re not familiar with can be overwhelming. You may struggle with adjusting to your new environment, and you may feel like giving up.
The important part is that you keep trying till it will get better eventually. If not at the first, try, then definitely, after some time passes. It helps to be active while you are studying abroad: join clubs or take classes, go on tours, get involved with the community.
That way you will make friends and have something besides your coursework to focus on.
The benefits of studying abroad as a medical student
- Studying abroad in a medical school will allow you to gain a global perspective on medicine and the medical practice they follow.
- You will be able to learn about healthcare in other countries and compare it to your home country.
- It is an opportunity for growth – you will be forced out of your comfort zone, which can lead to personal development
- Studying abroad gives you the chance to meet like-minded people who are also interested in international health care.
- You will have access to new resources that may not exist in your home country.
- There is endless potential for networking with fellow students, compatriots and other professionals from different backgrounds and cultures.
What are some examples of things that make life difficult as an international medical student in a foreign country?
Each country has its own etiquette, and newly arrived students find it hard to adjust to this.
- You might be expected to participate in certain activities and not others. For example, in Korea, it is common for students to bow to their elders (e.g. older family members or teachers), but not as common for students from other countries.
- Another aspect of culture shock is that you may not be familiar with what is going on around you. This can lead to failure in class due to a lack of understanding or exams because all the material seems overwhelming and impossible.
- You might feel isolated and wonder, “is anyone out there who understands what I’m going through?” It can also become difficult when the language barrier is too high.
- You might have trouble communicating with professors because you do not speak the same language. We have given some examples of the difficulties faced by students studying abroad, but what are some tips to overcome those struggles?
What are some ways to cope with these things?
Reach out! Find ways to communicate and make friends with people in your new country. Use this as a way to help yourself adapt to the environment you are living in. For example, if you’re having trouble speaking the language of your host country, try asking one of your classmates who speaks English to help teach you simple phrases
- After being accustomed to life abroad, you will find that it is not so difficult to change your own habits and customs. Maybe when you first go abroad, you simply walk into the hallway without knocking on a door-because that is what you are used to doing at home. Well maybe starting with just knocking will help ease yourself into different ways of life. As time goes on, you will be able to notice more customs. Take a few moments when you are frustrated with life abroad to step back and reflect on the things that are making it difficult for you.
- If you can, try not to let one small issue affect your entire experience abroad. For example, say there is something going on in class but you do not understand it. Go to your professor and ask for help instead of skipping class.
- It may be difficult to adapt at first, but not impossible-you can do it! The important thing is to keep trying. There are plenty of benefits to studying abroad (ex: experiencing new cultures) that make up for the difficulties you face. In addition, if you need a reminder of why it is worth it, check out
Some stress management tips for those studying abroad
- Find a study friend and make sure to check in with them every day
- Take care of your body by getting enough sleep, eating healthy, and exercising
- Take a break from studying for at least 30 minutes each day
- Learn about what causes stress and how you can manage it better
- Practice mindfulness meditation to focus on the present moment instead of worrying about future events
- Write down your thoughts so that they do not overwhelm you
- Get involved in extracurricular activities like sports or clubs to take your mind off things for a while
Tips and tricks for managing your time and staying organized while studying abroad
- Use a planner to keep track of your assignments and tasks
- Make a list of things you need to do so you can stay on top of everything
- Break down larger projects into smaller steps so they are easier to manage
- Get rid of any distractions that might be causing you stress or anxiety (e.g., social media)
- Find a study partner who will hold each other accountable for staying focused during studying sessions
The importance of self-care when you're feeling stressed out from your studies
It is easy to put your studies first. Nevertheless, after a while, the stress at school can really start to get to you. You might not realize it at first but when you are feeling stressed out or tired all the time, this is something that should be addressed. It is important for students like you to take care of themselves and do things that make you feel good about yourself because we are our own best support system.
This blog post will explore some ways in which self-care can help relieve our stress levels and keep us on track with studying!
- Acknowledge the feelings that come up and give yourself time to process them
- Reward yourself with something fun when you have completed a project or assignment!
- Remember that you’ll have a chance to catch up on your work once you return home from studying abroad
- If your negative thoughts are interfering with your life, you may need to seek help from close friends or family members
- Find ways to reduce stress in your daily life (e.g., take a hot shower) and journal about what’s going on in your head so you can see things more clearly
Conclusion
As a medical student studying abroad, you face many unique challenges that can make life difficult. To help combat these problems and stay on top of your studies while living in another country, here are some stress management tips for those studying abroad. First off, there is the challenge of managing time when you have an unfamiliar schedule to follow – this means understanding what times things happen in your host country so you do not miss class or important events. Next is organization–you will need to find ways to keep track of all your different responsibilities and appointments with ease (like keeping a separate calendar). Finally comes self-care–it’s easy to forget about yourself when everything else feels like it’s going wrong, but if you don’t take care of yourself, how can you expect to feel good enough to keep achieving your goals? Tailor your own stress management plan to suit your unique needs. These tips should help give you some ideas about how you can manage everyday stress so that you have more time to focus on studying and getting the most out of your experience abroad!
KC Raj
KC Raj is a career counselor and recruiter with many years of experience. Interested in topics like human development, education, immigration, inequality, and many other international issues. KC Raj is a socialist in thinking and believes in "One Nation, One World" theory.
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