Most seniors at Arlington High School who wish to pursue college degrees are headed to schools in Washington or nearby states. The furthest that some are going is the East Coast. For Amy Lopez-Gonzalez, however, the path to a medical degree does not lead to a local school or a typical four-year university in the state. Instead, it leads south of the border.
While most of her peers get ready for student life in the Pacific Northwest, Lopez-Gonzalez is preparing for entrance exams and a move to Mexico to pursue an MD. A decision driven by a mix of efficiency and a desire to gain more experiences.
In Mexico, students can directly enter medical school immediately after high school to pursue an MD, as the Mexican education system allows students to enter professional school at age 17-18. This is a 6-year path, including a mandatory service year, which differs from the U.S. requirement of a bachelor’s degree first.
“I get more opportunities quicker because I get to skip pre-med in that aspect of it… I want to get an MD as soon as possible and then I’ll probably want to specialize in something but I want to be able to experience that whole medicine field first,” Lopez-Gonzalez said.
The move offers more than just a faster academic track. The financial benefits and the chance to experience a culture she shares a deep connection with were major catalysing factors behind the shift. However as with any move, it does not come without its own challenges. From navigating off-campus housing, flying down for entrance exams in May, and keeping up with trips back home, the logistics of an international move add multiple extra steps to a standard college process.
“I guess [the hardest part is] logistics and planning out where the heck I’m gonna live,” said Lopez-Gonzalez.
Despite the challenges, the excitement of a new environment outweighs the stress. Having traveled through Europe and Mexico during high school, Lopez-Gonzalez is ready to “switch it up” and leave her familiar life behind. She looks forward to authentic Mexican food, the culture and learning about religion.
Yet, despite the knowledge and exposure other countries can offer, there is still a stigma attached to the choice of studying abroad. Many view American universities as more reputed and disregard foreign colleges as less advanced or unworthy. This often overlooks the benefit a foreign education can bring, especially since it comes with its own perks.
“I guess it’s kind of unheard of, at least in this general area that we live in, where it’s just, ‘Oh, that’s kind of lowly in a way,’” Lopez-Gonzalez said. “The prestigious aspect of it is definitely not there as of currently… [but] I’m really excited to not waste four years here.”
Her family, who had never considered the possibility seriously, did not hesitate to support her when she decided to make it a reality. Her friends turned out to be more surprised. After years of talking about staying in state, the news that Lopez-Gonzalez was headed to Jalisco or Colima came as quite the shock.
As she prepares to fly out for her final exams, Lopez0-Gonzalez encourages others to look past the fear of the unknown and do the work to find what’s out there. Sometimes you never know what opportunities might come your way.
“Start doing research, even if you’re really unsure about this, but still want to see what it’s all about. It’s really not that difficult to find information online. Ask around too. You’d be surprised at the amount of people that have considered studying abroad,” said Lopez-Gonzales.
Overall, the experience will not only get Lopez Gonzalez on a faster path to getting an MD but also, cultural exposure and new experiences that she might not have gotten had she chosen to stay here.
“I think [this experience will] change me in a good way. I’ll get to see more people’s experiences throughout life and experience more aspect,” said Lopez0-Gonzales.
