I plan to apply next summer, but I have to go abroad for half a year (from March to September) next year. My family is here so I have someone who can pickup mail, read/scan/email documents to me and also send documents by mail for me, and as far as I know, interviews (if there are some) will start normally in October? So I wonder is it possible that I can apply when I am in a foreign country? Any idea? Thanks!
Is it ok to go abroad during application?
- Thread starter Fish419
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2014
- Messages
- 2,003
- Reaction score
- 1,467
As long as you have regular access to internet/email, I do not see why not. It is worthy to note that some schools do start interviewing as early as July. What you should do is look on the website of each school you plan on applying to. Usually they have somewhere on the website that will say when they begin interviewing.
Good luck!
I completed 5 interviews before October 15th and had more scheduled for the time after.
It is up to you if you want to risk taking later interviews (interview time matters for some schools and doesn't for others)
Make sure that you can write/submit your primary and secondaries from abroad and that you have your LORs together before you leave.
It is up to you if you want to risk taking later interviews (interview time matters for some schools and doesn't for others)
Make sure that you can write/submit your primary and secondaries from abroad and that you have your LORs together before you leave.
Thank you for replying!
I thought application and secondary application can be submitted online, and interviews is the only one part that I have to be in the country. If I can find somebody help me to mail some documents or receive mails before interview starts, I should be fine, isn't it right?
I thought application and secondary application can be submitted online, and interviews is the only one part that I have to be in the country. If I can find somebody help me to mail some documents or receive mails before interview starts, I should be fine, isn't it right?
Nothing is done by mail except some rejection/waitlist letters and then post-acceptance packets.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2015
- Messages
- 167
- Reaction score
- 154
I am currently abroad in the Middle East for about two weeks. I submitted my primary and was verified the same day. I'm visiting family here so I was able to start pre writing secondaries and actually wrote about my trip in my essays. Honestly, we probably won't have many summers left with medical school (hopefully) starting next year. I say if you have Internet and it's a short trip, you'll be just fine.
Thank you for your reply and suggestions! Very helpful
Yes, it is true. I will try to make the trip short. Thank you
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2014
- Messages
- 1,922
- Reaction score
- 2,656
Very idealized and unrealistic scenario for 70% of applicants
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2015
- Messages
- 791
- Reaction score
- 1,041
Absolutely. I completed my entire application cycle while living abroad, and flew back for interviews. The only thing you need to be in the USA for are interviews and revisits (which I didn't even attend). Some schools will only send acceptance packets and/or rejection letters by mail too, but if you have someone checking mail for you you're fine. (If you are accepted you will get an email or a call, but the actual packet with info etc. is mailed).
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2015
- Messages
- 221
- Reaction score
- 169
One thing I wish people had told me about was a headshot. A lot of schools request a simple photo of you (from the shoulders up with a plain background) that you upload to your secondary. If you'll be out of the country and don't think you'll be able to get a decent photo of yourself with a plain background while you're there, I'd recommend getting one while you're still at home. Otherwise, I think you're totally fine to go abroad as long as you have internet access at least every couple of days or so!
