Studying abroad during summer of application - Help!

[vairules]

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Hi!

I need some help/input regarding a possible decision to study abroad this summer... I would like to study abroad in a Spanish speaking country this summer. The trip will be from May 15 - July 22. What I'm worried about is that this is also the time of medical school applications, and that it would interfere with possible MCAT attempts. Would it hinder me in any way to study abroad during that time? Here are some pros and cons I've worked out:

Pros of studying abroad:
-Time abroad
-Fluently learn Spanish
-Complete a minor in it as well

Cons of studying abroad:
-Will be gone during med school application time
-Will affect any possible MCAT retakes
-Expensive

Pros of staying home:
-Can do an additional MCAT retake in the Summer
-Research at a local medical school. I did it last summer, and plan on doing it again this coming summer. If I studied abroad, I would have to do it the following summer - just before I leave for med school.
-Possible time for summer classes (not really planning on taking them as of now)
-Complete time to work on my applications

So what should I do? I'm thinking of taking the MCAT in early-mid April. I'm hoping to one-shot it. If I study abroad, I will get my score back before I leave, but won't be able to take it again till I return. I could always move my initial MCAT to an earlier date, giving me time for a possible retake in early May, but I'm not sure if I'll be ready in late March.

So here are my questions:

Should I study abroad? If I do, how should I do my MCAT? One in early to mid April, then take one either when I get back, or a second one right before I leave (without knowing my score - is this even possible?) Or take the MCAT earlier to allow for a possible second attempt before leaving?

Also, in light of my applications, do you think that May 15th - July 20th would be a good time to be gone?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

[BigEast55]

tl;dr first: Study Abroad.

reasons:
1) Studying abroad is amazing and one of the best experiences of my life. Every single interview I have had has asked me about it, but that doesn't even matter at all, studying abroad is something I would suggest to every one. It really was the greatest experience of my college career.

2) One shot at the MCAT should be all you're thinking about, thinking that you have another shot is just going to make you want to put it off until later and not give it your 110% that you need to give it.

3) It's not a huge deal to be gone, as long as you are in Spain or some other first-world country with internet access, everything is done online, you can get your AMCAS ready starting May 1st, submit it June 1st, get your letters taken care of before you leave and be good to submit June 1st (like I did from England). You can start and complete secondaries from abroad, and if you want to get a head start look at the prior year's, usually they don't change a huge deal, and the ones that do you can wait until you get home. You can even mail stuff from abroad if you need to, its not really that expensive to mail an envelope (if you want to mail a package though watch out).

4) Being fluent in spanish is a huge plus for admissions boards especially in large cities or Texas/California where there is a massive spanish speaking population.

5) Research, you did one summer and that is probably enough unless you are applying MD/PhD or to top research schools.

The only major cons I really see are the expense, and studying abroad is quite costly (especially if you are going to Spain, the dollar isn't doing so hot lately) and the chance that you bomb your MCAT, but really, most people get on the MCAT a point or two below what they are doing on practice tests, so just get to a level you are comfortable with.

But really, 100% study abroad.

(As a note to others, I really think taking your MCAT sophomore year is a huge plus, or the summer between sophomore and junior year. Most people have completed their requirements and it really gives you a chance to take it again without pushing your applications later into the cycle.)

 

[vairules]

Thanks for the reply! Any others?

 

[GTS44]

Def study abroad. Try to get as much stuff done as possible beforehand as you'll have difficulty getting internet (even in some 1st world countries), not feel like doing school stuff, etc. once you're there. I was abroad while applying. Made the experience a bit more stressful (and costly FedEx-ing between countries = $$$... but that was only for one school) but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I've had more interview questions about my experience abroad than GPA, MCAT, etc.

👍

 

[Barcu]

Thanks for the reply! Any others?

Studying abroad during app season is very possible.

AMCAS opens in May, so you can start filling it in before you leave. Make sure to get transcripts and letters together and sent before you go.

You will NEED the internet and a place to mail stuff (most secondaries are all online though). So, that may affect where you will study, but you can definitely do it.

Again, do your primary before you go and maybe prewrite some of your secondaries. In the school-specific threads, they have this year's secondaries. They do not change much, so you will be fine pre-writing them. A good number of my secondaries weren't released or sent out until mid-late July and early August. So, you will probably be back for some of them anyway. It would be rare to have an interview that early, so you don't need to worry about that much (or just reschedule).

Studying abroad is great, and I would definitely recommend it. Spanish is very good. It helped me stick out during my interviews (even had to do part of one of my interviews in Spanish). It was really surprising how many applicants didn't take it or thought they were fine because they took some in high school. Don't expect to come back fluent (impossible in the short amount of time), but you will improve drastically. Good luck.

 

[Barcu]

Forgot to add this:

The only potential problem I see is not being able to retake the MCAT. You will not want to return and do it (your app would be real late and you don't want that over your head while abroad).

You have until April, so you have plenty of time. Make sure you only need to take it once. Do lots of practice tests, the best gauge of how you are going to do on test day (worth it to buy from AAMC). Good luck with that too.

Going abroad is definitely worth the risk of not being able to retake the MCAT.

 

[vairules]

Ok, thanks for the advice. I'm not entirely sure if I will have access to Internet here, or for how long or how frequently. I'll try to find that out. If not, would it be possible to have everything ready and then have a family member submit things?

 

[Barcu]

Ok, thanks for the advice. I'm not entirely sure if I will have access to Internet here, or for how long or how frequently. I'll try to find that out. If not, would it be possible to have everything ready and then have a family member submit things?

Definitely figure out your internet situation before you go. Unfortunately, I think having internet will be necessary for this to work out (someone please correct me if I'm wrong). If you don't have daily internet access, that should be fine. But not having it for the entire time, or only being able to use it a couple times would be risky.

In terms of family members, that might work. The problem is that there is more to the secondary than essays. Sometimes, there is additional info you need to fill out. I think a family member could do all this for you, it just might get difficult. Plus, there is a possibility of secondary essays changing, so it may be necessary to modify or write whole new essays.

You definitely should figure out the internet situation. It may not be a deal-breaker, but it would be very hard and risky without it. And what I have found out quickly during this app season is that the most successful applicants are the ones who can limit possible obstacles to their med school acceptance.

I hope everything works out for you. It would be a shame to have to choose between studying abroad and applying to med school.

 

[vairules]

You can say that again. Again, thanks. I really don't want to have to put this off, but if it comes down to a choice, my decision is clear. I don't want to have to sacrifice my hard work in MCAT preparation and throughout undergrad for an unfortunate timing situation.