Aternates to studying, i.e. non-academic plan B

[Guest noncestvrai]

I was wondering, if I don't get a medschool spot this year, and I choose not to study next year, what plan B I may go for.

 

I would be interested in working/volunteering abroad in health or non-health related fields, but I don't know a lot about those. I would really appreciate some guidance if anybody went through this.

 

Thank you.

 

noncestvrai

[Guest mfp]

Hey Nonc'estvrai -

 

If you are under the age of 30, you could apply for a youth internship from ACDI/CIDA. There are lots of opportunities to work in health and technology related areas overseas.

 

I myself went overseas a couple of years ago on a 7-month internship with UNICEF (through Canadian Public Health) - it was both rewarding and challenging. Plus you get a stipend of approximately $15,000 cdn which covered all my costs and then some (esp. since material things are so much cheaper in developing countries).

 

Check out CIDA's website at:

 

www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/cida_ind.nsf/AllDocIds/819996AD001FF22885256E6A004BBE3C?OpenDocument

 

Once you find an ONG that is interesting - click on it and find out if the internship positions have been filled (or not).

 

One recommendation: Having worked with NGO's (non-gov. organ.) that have received youth internship funding - I can tell you that some NGO's are more democratic than others in hiring youth interns. read: sometimes NGO's already have someone in mind before the funding is even received. So, apply for one position per NGO - but apply far and wide (or else you might be dissapointed!).

 

Hope this helps.

[Guest noncestvrai]

Do you have any suggestions, on some NGOs?

 

Strenght/weaknesses...

 

noncestvrai

[Guest ClimbOn]

Interesting.....Thanks for the info, mfp!

[Guest RageoftheDragon]

My plan B is to take a year to work in a pub. I could easily enter a M.Sc. program or something, but hells, I'd rather just have a blast and get some different experience for a year. Of course, this is not functional if marks need boosting.

 

RotD

[Guest mfp]

Noncestvrai-

 

Sorry for taking so long to reply. Exams, and now summer work is keeping me away from this forum...in a way I'm kinda thankful - I guess I'm not addicted after all .

 

re: would I recommend an NGO? I don't feel its appropriate for me to do so because I'm only intimately familiar with a couple of them. I will, however, venture that an internship applicant can decipher the capacity of NGO's depending on the number of internships available, ie: a smaller, less experienced NGO is not likely to have many spots.

 

In other words, CIDA/ACDI is very careful about only giving NGOs funding for internships to NGOs who have the capacity for succesfully facilitating them. For the past few years, a key word for CIDA staff working with youth-related projects has been 'capacity-building'. If the capacity isn't there, the NGOs are not likely to get sustained funding for these types of projects.

 

You can also tell the professionality and capacities of these NGO's by:

-checking out their websites

-looking at the number and scope of the internships

-getting a 'feel-for-it' during interviews

-deciphering the amount of time that your host NGO has been working with the placement NGO

-clear and timely in communications etc..

 

I will stress that this type of internship is not for individuals that are not self-directed learners and independent. Sometimes, placements fall apart when the interns arrive which means that you need to set up your goals/project timelines all while being culturally sensitive and working in a different language....

 

hope this helps.