Going abroad for 3 weeks in october; will this impact the interview process?

[deep122]

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I am considering going abroad for about 3-4 weeks between the end of September and mid to end of October during my year off. I was wondering if being gone for that period of time would impact my application negatively? I'm assuming I'll have internet abroad, in case I get any interview invites. Would I have to let the schools know that I would be out of the country for a few weeks?

 

[tabascosauce]

october is still pretty early for interview invites and since a lot of schools are rolling admissions the earlier the better. your trip might put you at a disadvantage at these schools should u get the invites.

 

[deep122]

Do schools usually just assign a date for the interview or do you get to schedule it?

 

[tabascosauce]

Do schools usually just assign a date for the interview or do you get to schedule it?

It depends on the school.

A school could:

(1) determine the date of the interview. You can probably contact them to reschedule. They are pretty accommodating.

(2) give you a link to a website where you can choose from a list of available dates for you to interview.

 

[deep122]

Ah. Well, I would really like to take this trip, as who knows when I would be able to go in the future. Would it be advisable to email the schools telling them the dates I will be abroad and that if they decide to invite me for an interview, to assign a date before or after the trip?

 

[tabascosauce]

Ah. Well, I would really like to take this trip, as who knows when I would be able to go in the future. Would it be advisable to email the schools telling them the dates I will be abroad and that if they decide to invite me for an interview, to assign a date before or after the trip?

I wouldnt email them that. I would instead get the interview invites then reschedule while you are abroad.

Breast of luck to you. I'll see you on the beach.

 

[rhesuspieces]

It depends on the school.

A school could:

(1) determine the date of the interview. You can probably contact them to reschedule. They are pretty accommodating.

(2) give you a link to a website where you can choose from a list of available dates for you to interview.

or (3) send an open-ended e-mail asking you to provide a list of dates that work for you.

Of my seven interview invites, I think one school straight up gave me a date, two asked me to provide a list of dates that worked for me, and the other four had me choose a date online, or choose from a list of dates provided in the invite e-mail. Most schools have a whole host of interview days and are very flexible in scheduling.

 

[SoyRicoSuave]

I had 7 interviews and every school let me put "dates I can't attend". Some even have: "if you are going to be out of the country some time during the ap cycle then when." If you were to get an interview on one of those dates then I wouldn't recommend rescheduling it. Rolling admissions>personal vacations. There is always the summer prior to med school, but thats just my opinion.

 

[deep122]

I had 7 interviews and every school let me put "dates I can't attend". Some even have: "if you are going to be out of the country some time during the ap cycle then when." If you were to get an interview on one of those dates then I wouldn't recommend rescheduling it. Rolling admissions>personal vacations. There is always the summer prior to med school, but thats just my opinion.

That's good to know. Honestly, I feel the same way and if this were a normal vacation, I would definitely not schedule it during the interview process, but there's a huge festival that occurs in Calcutta at the beginning of October and chances of me getting time off in October again are pretty slim for at least 4+ years. Might as well enjoy my life now before the medical process completely rules it.

 

[theshellyb]

That's good to know. Honestly, I feel the same way and if this were a normal vacation, I would definitely not schedule it during the interview process, but there's a huge festival that occurs in Calcutta at the beginning of October and chances of me getting time off in October again are pretty slim for at least 4+ years. Might as well enjoy my life now before the medical process completely rules it.

Definitely go, don't worry about the comments on "rolling schools". 3 weeks will not be enough time to hurt you (I pushed off interviews for more than 3 weeks just so I'd have to fly less, people do that all the time). You should take the opportunity to go to this festival since you're absolutely right, travel time will be very limited when you get to school. Everything will work out fine if you have to push an interview 3 weeks, and you definitely won't regret it. October is early enough anyway, I didn't hear of any schools that finished interviewing earlier than December (and Pitt is the only one that comes to mind that finishes that early).

 

[deep122]

Definitely go, don't worry about the comments on "rolling schools". 3 weeks will not be enough time to hurt you (I pushed off interviews for more than 3 weeks just so I'd have to fly less, people do that all the time). You should take the opportunity to go to this festival since you're absolutely right, travel time will be very limited when you get to school. Everything will work out fine if you have to push an interview 3 weeks, and you definitely won't regret it. October is early enough anyway, I didn't hear of any schools that finished interviewing earlier than December (and Pitt is the only one that comes to mind that finishes that early).

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll stick with the plan and make the trip.

 

[shinneunhae]

I have a similar situation...

A year-long research internship opportunity abroad is available to me (through which I might be able to get my name on a paper), but I would have to leave the states around August of 2012.
If I'm applying for med school at the beginning of the 2012 summer, how do you think schools will respond? Are there options of phone/web interviews? Will this make me less competitive as an applicant? Should I turn down the research opportunity?