Backpacking through Europe!

[dru180]

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Hey everybody
This is my first post, so let me just start off by wishing everyone good luck with applications, interviews, etc.

On to my question/discussion:

Like many of you, i am applying to d-schools this year, and will be graduating this spring. I always wanted to do a semester abroad, but never got the opportunity. Instead, i have decided that i want to spend the summer back-packing through Europe (almost 3 months if i can help it)! I feel it will be a one-of-a-kind experience that i may not ever get an opportunity to do again (especially not while in dental school). However, I am concerned about the timing of applications. 😕.

My concerns are:

- that the application process (interviews, etc.) might run into the summer since i know that some people my not be accepted or denied until late summer

-my stats aren't amazing, so if i get accepted it will probably be very late

-Moving: if i do get into dental school and i get in later in the year, or even if its early (say December or January....knock on wood), how long does it/has it taken people to move to a new state and get settled in.


Any thoughts on this subject would be greatly appreciated! Am i crazy to want to go backpacking this summer? Would i be crazy to not go?! Also, Anyone else thinking about doing the same thing!?!?!😀

Thanks everyone!

 

[bigstix808]

Hey everybody
This is my first post, so let me just start off by wishing everyone good luck with applications, interviews, etc.

On to my question/discussion:

Like many of you, i am applying to d-schools this year, and will be graduating this spring. I always wanted to do a semester abroad, but never got the opportunity. Instead, i have decided that i want to spend the summer back-packing through Europe (almost 3 months if i can help it)! I feel it will be a one-of-a-kind experience that i may not ever get an opportunity to do again (especially not while in dental school). However, I am concerned about the timing of applications. 😕.

My concerns are:

- that the application process (interviews, etc.) might run into the summer since i know that some people my not be accepted or denied until late summer

-my stats aren't amazing, so if i get accepted it will probably be very late

-Moving: if i do get into dental school and i get in later in the year, or even if its early (say December or January....knock on wood), how long does it/has it taken people to move to a new state and get settled in.


Any thoughts on this subject would be greatly appreciated! Am i crazy to want to go backpacking this summer? Would i be crazy to not go?! Also, Anyone else thinking about doing the same thing!?!?!😀

Thanks everyone!

you bet your ass i would be going! sence i have been denied already 🙁 i'm already making plans to travel next summer. my gf and are are planning a 3 week backpacking/rock climbing trip through croatia (her family is there) and italy. you know what, you only live once...do it while you can! and iron out the details later. besides, you could prob set up housing in advance before you even leave.

 

[NewMexDent]

The only real complication I would see is if you get accepted to a dental school that starts their first years in the summer. I'm in the process of figuring out when each school that I applied to starts because my wife and I want to travel across Europe, spend a couple weeks in St. Petersburg and take the trans-siberian railroad across Russia. If the only school I get accepted to starts early, it might throw a wrench in our plans.

So, I think it would be a great idea to go experience something new and interesting before dental school, because after that you'll just be working and then you'll have kids and it will be difficult to travel somewhere for a long period of time. Do it now or it may never happen.

 

[estrella00]

DO IT! You know, after you've interviewed there's nothing more you can do but wait and I'm pretty sure schools stop interviewing at some point in the early spring. You could schedule your trip after that. Maybe you could ask the schools to notify you by email and there will be a TON of internet cafes where you can check periodically on your travels. I agree with everyone else, if you wait you probably won't do it. I studied abroad during school and I cannot tell you how many people tell me they wished they had done it when they had the chance. If you've applied to schools that start in the late summer maybe you could schedule your trip to be after the end of interviews and before the start of the summer schools?

On another note, I don't know what kind of person/traveler you are, but my favorite books are the Time Out guides. They seem to have more 'hidden gems' in my opinion, but I don't like to go to the places where all the Americans hang out. They are a little limited in some areas, so you might want to supplement with another guide.

 

[building]

you have to do it.

A travel experience like this is unlike any other. 3 months may be a bit much, because you might have to plan for moving to your respective school or any requirements before going, but man, if I can pull together enough money this summer, I'm going europe again.

Last year, I went to netherlands, germany, czech rep, austria, switzerland, france, spain, italy, greece.

This year, hopefully I can go to asia.
Within the next 4 years, I want to backpack through Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

A backpacking trip is a trip of a lifetime, without a doubt, pick up your best friend, grab 4 sets of clothes, fly to europe and meet some of the raddest people doing the exact same thing you are. get lost in random cities, drink amazing beer, eat incredible food, jump off some cliffs, go swimming in the med, ride in the storage car of a train, sleep in a barn, and prepare to truly get a taste of what life can offer.

it's just one of those things in life that you only understand if you actually do it.

 

[doubledizzle13]

are you guys going to use loans to do these trips? I have thought about doing the same thing this summer, but don't want to go into more debt than I already have..or are you guys just loaded?

 

[pharoh]

hey man...that's my plan for this summer...but my only concern is that i wana go to uop so if i do get in there i'll be starting in july 🙁

but i agree with everyone else...this is probably the last time u'll have a chance to do it

 

[bigstix808]

are you guys going to use loans to do these trips? I have thought about doing the same thing this summer, but don't want to go into more debt than I already have..or are you guys just loaded?

i thought about the whole loan thing to take my trip on, but i got a faculty position at my college and i'm making pretty good money. i was very fortuate to be able to teach, and get my masters at the same time.

if you are financial savvy, you can always try and invest in some quick stocks. i made $500 in a few weeks before spring break last year. if it wasn't for that, i wouldn't have gone anywhere.

 

[NewMexDent]

are you guys going to use loans to do these trips? I have thought about doing the same thing this summer, but don't want to go into more debt than I already have..or are you guys just loaded?

I may use some loan money to fund my trip, they way I see it is the trip is furthering my education. Going into more debt sucks, but I really don't think it's something I'll ever regret. Of course, I'm not really the type who is looking forward to buying a nice car, house or lavish things when I'm done with dental school - I wouldn't mind living poor in order to have a great experience now (which I feel would never happen in the future, even if I'm loaded as a dentist).

 

[Bob81575]

When I graduated college ten years ago I traveled with a friend of mine through Europe hitting ten countries in six weeks. It was without a doubt the most memorable experience of my life and I would not trade it for anything.

I am now a post-bac student applying to dental school this year and am going to do some traveling between the time I get into dental school (fingers crossed) and when school starts. I know several schools start in July or don't start until August but have pre-D1 research programs that you can get involved in. I am shooting for traveling between April 15 - June 15 and either seeing Europe again or doing a stretch in China-Vietnam-Thailand-Cambodia. Going to hope for a December 1 acceptance and then start finalizing those plans but I digress. . .

You mentioned graduating this year so my assumption is that you will not be done with school until early May. I would shoot for travel from like May 15 - July 1 or later if the school you attend does not start until late August. I would recommend getting to campus two weeks early just to get situated although I am sure plenty of people show up 3-4 days before classes begin. You can see alot of Europe in 6 weeks. If you have an questions or want suggestions on an itinerary, you can PM me.

Travel! You won't regret it.

Bob

 

[QuackDentist]

grab 4 sets of clothes, ride in the storage car of a train, sleep in a barn,

This part doesn't sound fun for me. 🙁

 

[rkamsterdam]

Absolutely GO! Travel is an experience unlike any other. Dental school is going to be 4 years of strenuous work. At the very least, a trip abroad will be a time to relax and reward yourself before signing up to a lifelong devotion of work. More likely though, a trip abroad will be a time to reflect. It will give you a redefined sense of the world-a broadened perspective of society-to build a firm foundation of human sociology in which to judge values and world culture including your own. (if you travel to less affluent countries) You'll gain such a respect of human resilience as you see waves of smiles from persons living with none of the luxuries you take for granted. your own worries will seem so trivial.

For me, travel has become an essential part of my life. After spending too much time in America, I am consumed by my material worries-How am i going to finance my bmw, I cant live without a 52 in lcd tv, "I ordered my steak medium rare, this is obviously medium." Dont get me wrong, I love my country and I feel lucky to have these worries since its a symptom of our affluence, but travel is required, for me, to come back down to earth.

I compare travel to the first time I went to an amusement park as a young boy. A walk through an amusement park is like a walk through a foreign avenue, where the sights, sounds, and smells are all new to you. Its such a sensuous experience-a thrill uattainable in your home country. GO abroad now!

As a side note, I recommend SE Asia. Your dollar will go much further.

 

[building]

Absolutely GO! Travel is an experience unlike any other. Dental school is going to be 4 years of strenuous work. At the very least, a trip abroad will be a time to relax and reward yourself before signing up to a lifelong devotion of work. More likely though, a trip abroad will be a time to reflect. It will give you a redefined sense of the world-a broadened perspective of society-to build a firm foundation of human sociology in which to judge values and world culture including your own. (if you travel to less affluent countries) You'll gain such a respect of human resilience as you see waves of smiles from persons living with none of the luxuries you take for granted. your own worries will seem so trivial.

For me, travel has become an essential part of my life. After spending too much time in America, I am consumed by my material worries-How am i going to finance my bmw, I cant live without a 52 in lcd tv, "I ordered my steak medium rare, this is obviously medium." Dont get me wrong, I love my country and I feel lucky to have these worries since its a symptom of our affluence, but travel is required, for me, to come back down to earth.

I compare travel to the first time I went to an amusement park as a young boy. A walk through an amusement park is like a walk through a foreign avenue, where the sights, sounds, and smells are all new to you. Its such a senuous experience-a thrill uattainable in your home country. GO abroad now!

As a side note, I recommend SE Asia. Your dollar will go much further.

I absolutely agree. It brings perspective to whats going on in the world.
Watching news in different parts of the world, I saw how other countries see the US, how they saw each other, and got to see conflicts other than those to do with the United States. It sounds cheesy, but while you travel, you feel the power of the human spirit.

Prepare to have your senses overloaded and overwhelmed, prepare to be more tired than you've ever been, and prepare to be blown away by the history and beauty around you. Backpacking will not only give you a chance to experience the world outside of our immediate country, but give you the opportunity to learn about yourself.

 

[Pyriots]

Just save a nestegg so you can fly back real quick if you do get an interview. CHeck your account at internet cafes as often as you can, theyre all over europe. At my Maryland interview last year, we had a guy do almost exactly the same thing, flew in from Budapest for the interview. Everybody at the interview describes themselves and where they flew in from and the adcom was automatically impressed that he flew in so far. It'll be expensive BUT the chances of getting interviews during the summer months is slim anyway and if you do, youll probablyjust get one. What I would be worried about is getting all your shots and stuff if you get accepted while overseas. If you have responsible parents who can help you do paperwork or fax you stuff in hotels, then youre set.

 

[yorkiepoo]

Do it-- figure out details as the come. Start your trip as early as possible so that if you can to return in July you can have at least a month- 1.5 months traveling.

I haven't worked out the details but I am planning on traveling in Latin America. I'm sick of Europe. I am planning on Starting up in Mexico and making my way down through a few stops and then to Chile. 😎

 

[dru180]

Shiza! I'm so glad i made this post. I'm surprised the amount of feedback i have received and the accompanying enthusiasm! Everyone has given me so much more confidence towards this whole thing. I feel like its not such an outlandish idea to do it. I guess its just another reason why dental students are the ****, and med students are JPG [just plain gay (and no, im not bashing gay people)].

bigstix- i hope you and your gf have an awesome trip. P.S. Maybe you should be on Wallstreet with those skillz. P.S.S. I have a degree in Finance, so the 2 of us should open the first ever dental practice/stock investment conglomerate and take over the world.

newmexdent- thanks for the heads-up about when schools may start. I have called some of the schools ive applied to, inquiring about that. So far, I'm good to go xcept UoP i believe, but I've only called about half. I'll keep my fingers crossed.


Estrella- I'm definately going to check out those Time Out guides (im assuming available at a B&N or something of the like?). They seem exactly what im looking for, as i don't want to go to "touristy" spots. I'm not going to travel half way across the world to eat at a damned McDonalds.

Building- Excuse my french 🙂p) but ****ing Awesome Post. Your paragraph at the end is EXACTLY how I want my trip to go, and it brought a huge smile to my face. You are right though, i may have to cut back on the length. Can i ask of the places you went last year, which was your favorite and least favorite, and why?

Doubledizzle- I will probably take out a loan. I'm definately not rich, if i was i would have done a semester abroad a long time ago. But i've decided its time for me to sack-up and stop letting a thing like money come between me and something I've dreamed of doing since I went to Costa Rica my junior year of college. Besides, whats another couple grand on 200+.

Pharoh- i applied to UoP too, so that concerns me. Do you think if we write a letter to the Dean, they would make an exception for the 2 of us? 😎

Bob81575- Thanks for the advice, i definitely don't want to be that guy who shows up the day before dental school starts. I will have to look into that as well. I might take you up on that PM when i get a little closer to booking tickets. Thanks.

Quackdentist- Live life dangerously. j/p!

rkamsterdam- Thats a huge part of why I'm going. We are so sheltered it seems, and its time i see what the rest of the world has to offer, both good and bad, beautiful and ugly. P.S. My friend and i were discussing the Purchasing power of the Dollar in some of these countries and we agree with you, so we might take a part of our trip to Thailand, where a good friend of mine lives.

Pyriots- My parents are definitely going to have to help me on this one, i better do a lot of kissing ass to get them on my side. haha

Yorkiepoo- I agree, i think there is a few major things i should look into first, like when my schools start, but other then those few things, i think play it by ear is a good idea. (Play it by beer may even be a better idea)


Again, thanks everyone. Please keep giving me feedback and things to think about!

Its amazing how this application process has made me realize things about myself i already knew, but hadn't quite put into words. Everyone has heard the statement "work hard and play hard", but its turned into a motto for me. We have all worked hard to get where we are at, and its time to reward ourselves a little!

 

[bigstix808]

bigstix- i hope you and your gf have an awesome trip. P.S. Maybe you should be on Wallstreet with those skillz. P.S.S. I have a degree in Finance, so the 2 of us should open the first ever dental practice/stock investment conglomerate and take over the world.

...love it...mwah ha ha ha ha

funny thing is, i've never taken any kind of business class 😱 i owned my own business in HS and first year of college, but no classes. just lucky i guess.

 

[futuredds08]

Do it. I only did it for six weeks, but made my way through Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Greece, Italy, France, England, and Scotland. Even though I am majorly in debt, both in credit cards and student loans taken to go on this adventure, I wouldn't change it for a thing. I don't know about 3 months. After those 6 weeks I was majorly wiped emotionally and physically. You wouldn't believe how much walking you will do, and how heavy a "light" backpack will get when you are carrying it everywhere.

Advice: the Eurail card is totally worth it. You won't get on for free everywhere (especially Italy) but the panoramic train is free with the card through Switzerland, which is awesome. I think it cost me about $700, but I added up how much I would have spent otherwise, and it did save quite a bit of money.

 

[pharoh]

unfortunately we can't ...
i remember at the interview someone asked if they could defer the offer of acceptance and they told him that only if it's due to sickness. and in our situation uop is very fast moving so we just can't catch up like that... i think what i will do is just my trip shorter it wont be as much fun but we gotta do what we gotta do,....
and i guess it also depends if uop is ur #1...for me it is so i gotta do something about it, but if it;s not for you then ur good to go man...
anyways it;ll be tons of fun...
good luck with all man....and maybe i'll c u in europe...

 

[rkamsterdam]

Do it. I only did it for six weeks, but made my way through Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Greece, Italy, France, England, and Scotland. Even though I am majorly in debt, both in credit cards and student loans taken to go on this adventure, I wouldn't change it for a thing. I don't know about 3 months. After those 6 weeks I was majorly wiped emotionally and physically. You wouldn't believe how much walking you will do, and how heavy a "light" backpack will get when you are carrying it everywhere.

Advice: the Eurail card is totally worth it. You won't get on for free everywhere (especially Italy) but the panoramic train is free with the card through Switzerland, which is awesome. I think it cost me about $700, but I added up how much I would have spent otherwise, and it did save quite a bit of money.

I did three months in Europe in the summer of 2003. It definitely was the best 3 months of my life, but I agree, it took a toll on me emotionally and physically. And I only backpacked half the time. the first half of my trip, I secured a job at a hotel in the scottish highlands in a small town called Aviemore. This was absolutely a blast. I worked with people from all over the world inc. ireland, scotland, england, austrailia, new zealand, s africa, quebec, and made life long friends in the process. I would definitely recommend this if possible. check bunac.org and PM me if you have any questions.