Studying Abroad (summer after submitting app?)

[Destroy364]

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I'm planning to study abroad the summer immediately following submitting applications (just 6 weeks mid-july to end of august at cambridge). Would this be ok in terms of secondaries? I was told by my counselor that I could have those faxed/forwarded as they came and that it wouldn't be a big deal. Someone else said it might be a good idea to get the essay prompts from applicants the previous year and write all of them beforehand so I could just paste and send them off because I want to have fun, travel, and will also be doing coursework without wasting the experience abroad filling out secondaries...

Any suggestions/comments? Is this a totally horrible idea/ should I spend that summer waiting by the mailbox?

Thanks!

 

[Premed2003]

It's important to spend the summer working on stellar secondary essays. Essay writing doesn't end with the personal statement. I would recommend against traveling in July and August. I traveled mid August to beginning of September, and I was able ot finish all of my secondaries by the time I left. However, I worked all of July on secondaries -- if you submit AMCAS in June, you'll have the same schedule and start getting secondaries in July.

 

[cabruen]

I disagree with Premed2003. Absolutely go. I never met anyone that regretted going abroad. For whatever reason ever!
You'll have a blast, and learn, and get experiences that you can talk about during your medical school interviews. You will be back in at the end of August and that is still way early to fill out Secondaries. Also, have the applications sent to your parents house or a friend that can then read you the questions on the phone or by email. You can then work on them during free time on the train while you travel to visit Scottland, Edinborough, Venice, Niece, Berlin, Bucharest, Budapest, etc. Go!!!!!!

 

[CrashinStoneFish]

Another vote to go...I know I've said this to people before...but you will have SO much fun..I went right after I submitted my amcas in june and got back mid august...the only thing that really held me back was not having all of my LORs, so get those established before you leave....it was a bit stressful getting everything done when I got back, but I wouldn't trade that for the experiences I had in England, France, Scotland, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands...not in a heartbeat! It definitely gave me something to talk about in the interview I've had so far as well 😉

 

[technochuck]

I would be careful in your dates, I submitted AMCAS in the beginning of July and I was away all of August and September, and this was when most of my secondaries came. I had someone checking my mail twice a week. It was a bit challenging especially when I did not have internet access, but I was able to complete about 8 abroad, which was necessary for some that require fast turn around times. Plan ahead and be prepared to work on the secondaries on your trip and have fun.

😎

 

[AussieNYC]

if you are a highly competitive applicant, then go...if you are average and need the 1-2 mo. advantage of turning things in by sept., then i suggest you stick around...i know of applicants who are so glad they stuck around july and august...if you're planning to travel, do it late may, early june, and then make sure to work on your AMCAS as soon as you return.

 

[Classof07]

I've heard that Duke and Stanford both have really long secondaries. Lucky for me, I applied to neither of them. I applied to 10 schools and none of the secondaries took more than an hour or two to complete. So definitely go and so long as you can get to an Internet cafe to read up on the school's website, you'll be completely fine.
I remember a friend of mine's mother telling us that we would have to spend 8 AM to 4 PM working on our applications the summer that we would be applying. I have no idea to what she was referring. AMCAS is smooth thanks to last year's class' problems and the secondaries will come most probably when you're gone. But we live in a digital age and through faxing/emailing/and the web, you should have no problems enjoying your trip and getting things done.

 

[Mutterkuchen]

I agree you should go. Just make sure that you submit your AMCAS in June and have a family member at home to open your mail. Europe is littered with internet cafes where you can work on applications. Just block time to do this. Make sure you bring your checkbook from home and get your pictures made. Also, paper is a different size in Europe, so you might consider bringing US paper, just so yours does not stick out.

Also make sure to get your LORs in now. You don't want to have to deal with that when you are gone.