Grand Canyon float trip or (possible) interviews

[deleted932911]

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I'll be a first time applicant for the 2020 cycle starting next June. My good friend recently won a Grand Canyon permit for next October and invited me to join the month long trip. It's going to be amazing and I committed without thinking too hard about the downsides. The only real downside is that I hear October is (can be) a pretty hopping month for the admissions game, notably secondaries and interview invites.

I'm on track to submit June 1, and will have time to do most of my secondaries ahead of time if the prompts are available. I'll have a sat phone too. I've read elsewhere that schools often offer a range of dates to interview, but no guarantees. So, back out of the trip just in case, or just do it and accept that any school that can't appreciate the importance of the Grand Canyon is stupid?

 

[freelancePsychic]

The issue isn’t that you might get secondaries or IIs in October, it’s that you might get an actual interview scheduled for an October date. This sounds like a once in a lifetime opportunity though, and I would want to make it work even if it would be really difficult. Would your friend be screwed over if you back out later? If it is a group of friends going one missing member might be fine, but if it’s just the two of you it would not be fair to cancel if, say, HMS only gives you October dates.

 

[DrRiker]

Most schools I've interviewed at gave me a choice of dates within a 3 week range. One school have me a choice between all of their interview dates from September through January. A couple of schools assigned me a date, but said to call the committee if there was a conflict.

Yeah, October is a busy month, but I think I could have moved my October interviews for this awesome trip.

 

[Goro]

Sigh

@gonnif ?

 

[riverrunner]

It seems like communication will be key.
Do you have someone who will reliably open your email every day and respond to interview invitations on your behalf?
Will you have an InReach with you? Besides giving you access to help in case of a physical emergency, it could also help with application emergencies.
I vote "go" if you've got someone to cover your channels while you're gone. But I'm just a person who likes adventures.

 

[thetheatrecat]

Do it. The Grand Canyon is amazing. Worst case, you hike in or out at Phantom Ranch to get to an interview. Agreed with the above though, you'll need someone to reliably check your email and the school portals, and be able to communicate that information to you.

 

[LadyGlen]

That’s a tough decision. Once in a lifetime, but you definitely need someone to check your email and communicate with you consistently regarding scheduling interviews. For context, I attended 4 interviews in October and received my first acceptance. It would have sucked to miss that.

 

[deleted932911]

Thanks gang, definitely agree about the reliable commo with a designated mail/portal checker, I'm comfortable with the logistics of dropping off the digital face of the earth after working remote and mil. I suppose I could preplan enough that my representative could accept the II's that will hopefully pile up while I'm off recuperating!

Maybe not warranted, but as a non-trad with a checkered academic past, I'm not expecting to get picked first to dance.
My number one pick and best hope does all their interviews in Jan, so I feel comfortable with the level of risk.

Obvious hyperbole, calling schools stupid that won't accommodate my wishes, but the grain of truth in it is that a school that makes all the obligatory work-life balance, burnout, suicide prevention noises but isn't stoked about a prospective student that has embraced healthy boundaries is probably not the place for me.

 

[getdown]

Thanks gang, definitely agree about the reliable commo with a designated mail/portal checker, I'm comfortable with the logistics of dropping off the digital face of the earth after working remote and mil. I suppose I could preplan enough that my representative could accept the II's that will hopefully pile up while I'm off recuperating!

Maybe not warranted, but as a non-trad with a checkered academic past, I'm not expecting to get picked first to dance.
My number one pick and best hope does all their interviews in Jan, so I feel comfortable with the level of risk.

Obvious hyperbole, calling schools stupid that won't accommodate my wishes, but the grain of truth in it is that a school that makes all the obligatory work-life balance, burnout, suicide prevention noises but isn't stoked about a prospective student that has embraced healthy boundaries is probably not the place for me.

While taking care of yourself is important there's a difference between accommodating a reasonable request due to an actual conflict vs going on vacation. No school will be ok with you not being able to attend because you're on a Grand Canyon trip. You can go on this trip any time even after you're done with training. Missing your only shot at med school for a ridiculous reason is the true definition of a "once in a lifetime mistake".

I would also caution this type of mindset during residency. You're going to be expected to be available and finish your clinical responsibilities. Same with when you're applying for jobs. I can imagine some interview request asking for a date and if your answer is "can it wait until this trip" that spot will be long gone before you get back. Priorities man. You can do whatever once you're in.

 

[raf1ki]

Two schools decided my interview date for me and strongly discouraged trying to reschedule it.

 

[DrRiker]

Many portals ask if you're going to be unavailable for any portion of the interview season. Easy way to be upfront about it

 

[deleted932911]

Valid points, I appreciate the perspective.

While taking care of yourself is important there's a difference between accommodating a reasonable request due to an actual conflict vs going on vacation. No school will be ok with you not being able to attend because you're on a Grand Canyon trip. You can go on this trip any time even after you're done with training. Missing your only shot at med school for a ridiculous reason is the true definition of a "once in a lifetime mistake".

I would also caution this type of mindset during residency. You're going to be expected to be available and finish your clinical responsibilities. Same with when you're applying for jobs. I can imagine some interview request asking for a date and if your answer is "can it wait until this trip" that spot will be long gone before you get back. Priorities man. You can do whatever once you're in.

 

[deleted932911]

hey all, figured I'd close the loop on this story. I didn't get my secondaries submitted till Aug-Sep, was actually jamming out apps the night before we set off on the trip in Oct. I had a real solid guy who had access to everything, email, portals, etc with a tidy little spreadsheet to explain it all. He had my sat phone number and instructions to click accept interview for anything after the trip and try to delay if not possible. A week or so into the trip I had two interviews offered, one for the week following trip. Got off the Grand, saw the family, interviewed, flew home, and 4 weeks later got my first acceptance to med school 🙂

The trip was mind blowing and honestly I'd recommend it to anyone who prepares, I hardly thought about anything medical related the entire trip and it was a welcome break after nearly a year of non-stop prep. Thanks for the advice gang

 

[Agentcross]

hey all, figured I'd close the loop on this story. I didn't get my secondaries submitted till Aug-Sep, was actually jamming out apps the night before we set off on the trip in Oct. I had a real solid guy who had access to everything, email, portals, etc with a tidy little spreadsheet to explain it all. He had my sat phone number and instructions to click accept interview for anything after the trip and try to delay if not possible. A week or so into the trip I had two interviews offered, one for the week following trip. Got off the Grand, saw the family, interviewed, flew home, and 4 weeks later got my first acceptance to med school 🙂

The trip was mind blowing and honestly I'd recommend it to anyone who prepares, I hardly thought about anything medical related the entire trip and it was a welcome break after nearly a year of non-stop prep. Thanks for the advice gang

Very envious

 

[Destalchemy]

I worked on the north rim. It really is an incredible experience. Glad it all worked out for you OP

 

[Rachapkis]

hey all, figured I'd close the loop on this story. I didn't get my secondaries submitted till Aug-Sep, was actually jamming out apps the night before we set off on the trip in Oct. I had a real solid guy who had access to everything, email, portals, etc with a tidy little spreadsheet to explain it all. He had my sat phone number and instructions to click accept interview for anything after the trip and try to delay if not possible. A week or so into the trip I had two interviews offered, one for the week following trip. Got off the Grand, saw the family, interviewed, flew home, and 4 weeks later got my first acceptance to med school 🙂

The trip was mind blowing and honestly I'd recommend it to anyone who prepares, I hardly thought about anything medical related the entire trip and it was a welcome break after nearly a year of non-stop prep. Thanks for the advice gang

I read this hoping that you went on the trip AND got into med school. It made me smile to hear that is exactly what happened. Best of luck in school.

 

[Andrew Baines Bernard]

hey all, figured I'd close the loop on this story. I didn't get my secondaries submitted till Aug-Sep, was actually jamming out apps the night before we set off on the trip in Oct. I had a real solid guy who had access to everything, email, portals, etc with a tidy little spreadsheet to explain it all. He had my sat phone number and instructions to click accept interview for anything after the trip and try to delay if not possible. A week or so into the trip I had two interviews offered, one for the week following trip. Got off the Grand, saw the family, interviewed, flew home, and 4 weeks later got my first acceptance to med school 🙂

The trip was mind blowing and honestly I'd recommend it to anyone who prepares, I hardly thought about anything medical related the entire trip and it was a welcome break after nearly a year of non-stop prep. Thanks for the advice gang

Haha thank you for a fun, morning read. I'm glad everything worked out so well for you. Congratulations, and best of luck in med school.

 

[throwawayofcourse]

Being away at the bottom of the GC out of communication for a month is, in my opinion, a very bad idea.

see post update from OP

 

[deleted932911]

View attachment 288745

see post update from OP

Not wrong, it's a valuable perspective and I took a calculated risk that worked out for me this time. I have a wonderful support network and mitigated the risks as best as I could. I'm comfortable with that uncertainty and being >30 I was ok with the consequences of waiting another year if it didn't work out this go around.

I want to emphasize how much work and thought went into this decision, how fortunate I am to have a rock solid support network, and how much I appreciate the feedback I've received here. Especially the ones recommending caution.

Stay hungry. Stay foolish 😉