Studying abroad while applying without internet?

[deleted592396]

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I really want to study abroad in Africa for a month in either June or July, but I will also be applying to medical schools around this time. The program I would like to do is not a traditional study abroad and more like a field study, so I would have very limited access to internet and free time. I can go either June 2nd-July 1st or July 7th to August 5th. I know the AMCAS will allow me to submit by June 1st and I hope to do so by then in either case.

So my question is would it be better to submit my primary application, go abroad in June, and then submit secondaries once I am back or would it be better to go in July with the hope that secondaries will be out before then and I will be able to submit them before I leave? I feel quite conflicted about what to do and am also considering looking at a different program in a location with more reliable internet, but I really have fallen in love with this program. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[SN12357]

Prewrite your secondaries and then go in July, having submitted your primary in June. The essay prompts are available in the school-specific threads and most don't change from year to year.

AMCAS screwed up this year and the first day of submission was delayed. It's entirely possible it could happen again this year in which case submitted you primary on June 1 might not be possible. A lot of schools don't release their secondaries until after they get the first transmission from AMCAS at the end of June anyway. If you go in July and prewrite your essays, you can submit secondaries when you get back and be complete in August. This is still early in the process.

 

[Dr. Bob Doe]

When AMCAS opens in May fill out your application, when you are allowed to submit in June send the application to your schools you're interested in. Secondaries take a little while to come depending on the school so when you get back home finish your secondaries. Also how limited are we talking? Perhaps if you explain the situation they may grant you special access or something that'll help you with your internet situation. Or another idea would be to go to your local electronics store and ask them what products could you take with you to Africa that will help with the little to no internet problem.

 

[Oso]

Also how limited are we talking? Perhaps if you explain the situation they may grant you special access or something that'll help you with your internet situation. Or another idea would be to go to your local electronics store and ask them what products could you take with you to Africa that will help with the little to no internet problem.

sorry, but no

 

[Anathema]

sorry, but no

Helpful response buddy

 

[baconshrimps]

When AMCAS opens in May fill out your application, when you are allowed to submit in June send the application to your schools you're interested in. Secondaries take a little while to come depending on the school so when you get back home finish your secondaries. Also how limited are we talking? Perhaps if you explain the situation they may grant you special access or something that'll help you with your internet situation. Or another idea would be to go to your local electronics store and ask them what products could you take with you to Africa that will help with the little to no internet problem.

I seriously doubt any medical school will do this.

1. For medical schools that screen before sending secondaries, it comes off as very presumptious that the medical school will in fact be interestested in the applicant

2. The medical schools already have so many applications coming in, that they likely will not sympathize with one person who could otherwise submit the application when they get back from their trip since the deadlines for submissions will not have passed

3. The medical schools may also view this as "all of these 7500 applicants had no problem getting the application in despite their summer plans, so we'll just go with those"

Sorry, but it's a very competitive process, and asking for sympathy at the front end of it usually doesn't lead to an outcome favorable for the applicant.

 

[Catalystik]

1) I know the AMCAS will allow me to submit by June 1st and I hope to do so by then in either case.

2) So my question is would it be better to submit my primary application, go abroad in June, and then submit secondaries once I am back

1) As I recall, AMCAS opened for submission on June 4 last year, so don't count on being able to do so June 1 of this year. Is there a trusted someone in your life (a helicopter parent would be ideal here) that you'd trust to pay the fee and submit your already completed AMCAS Primary application with your legal permission, assuming the Certification Statement allows for this?

2) Yes, since, as mentioned above, AMCAS doesn't transmit completed applications to med schools, even though transcripts were verified, until toward the end of June. To be sure that Secondary invitations don't sit in your inbox, you might consider applying to a single school initially, just to get verification going. You can easily add and pay for additional schools later, with those schools receiving the entire application within a business day of being added to your list (since it would be July by then).

 

[Dr. Bob Doe]

I seriously doubt any medical school will do this.

1. For medical schools that screen before sending secondaries, it comes off as very presumptious that the medical school will in fact be interestested in the applicant

2. The medical schools already have so many applications coming in, that they likely will not sympathize with one person who could otherwise submit the application when they get back from their trip since the deadlines for submissions will not have passed

3. The medical schools may also view this as "all of these 7500 applicants had no problem getting the application in despite their summer plans, so we'll just go with those"

Sorry, but it's a very competitive process, and asking for sympathy at the front end of it usually doesn't lead to an outcome favorable for the applicant.

I was talking about her study abroad program not the medical schools.

 

[Dr. Bob Doe]

sorry, but no

Which part do you vehemently disagree with? The part where I told her she could get some sort of special access to the internet or AMCAS site? I'm sorry cause there seems to be some confusion, and that mistake was on my part. What about the part when I said she could get some neat gadgets to take with her? What's so farfetched about buying a wireless router adapter with a strengthened signal and bringing it with you to a foreign country? Companies that trail make it happen. Don't underestimate the power of a 4G phone either, however I'm not entirely sure so go to BESTBUY or something.

 

[Oso]

Which part do you vehemently disagree with? The part where I told her she could get some sort of special access to the internet or AMCAS site? I'm sorry cause there seems to be some confusion, and that mistake was on my part. What about the part when I said she could get some neat gadgets to take with her? What's so farfetched about buying a wireless router adapter with a strengthened signal and bringing it with you to a foreign country? Companies that trail make it happen. Don't underestimate the power of a 4G phone either, however I'm not entirely sure so go to BESTBUY or something.

Oh, I see. I understood it as seeking special access to the AMCAS application itself.

I suppose the OP could talk to the people in charge of her trip, but if she's out in the field, there's only so much you can do. As for additional technology, I suppose it's possible, but it also depends on where she's going exactly. Again, there's only so much you can do; it kind of sounds like a hassle and there is no guarantee that she'll be able to make it work. What if you aren't able to connect? Then the entire plan falls through.

OP, I think your best bet is to be smart about your timing. Like others have said, I think it will be important for you to be here in June so you can submit your app promptly after it opens. Verification takes a while, and the sooner you submit the better (July is peak season). Start pre-writing some secondaries (or at least some common ones, like personal challenge, diversity, etc.) and be ready to work on them as soon as you get back. You'll be in good shape if you're complete by the second week of August.

 

[SN12357]

Which part do you vehemently disagree with? The part where I told her she could get some sort of special access to the internet or AMCAS site? I'm sorry cause there seems to be some confusion, and that mistake was on my part. What about the part when I said she could get some neat gadgets to take with her? What's so farfetched about buying a wireless router adapter with a strengthened signal and bringing it with you to a foreign country? Companies that trail make it happen. Don't underestimate the power of a 4G phone either, however I'm not entirely sure so go to BESTBUY or something.

I really wouldn't suggest submitting secondaries over a mobile device on questionable internet even if such a thing is technically possible. You want everything about your application to be perfect; perfectly proofread, submitted correctly the first time, all the right boxes checked. Some of those secondary websites are really ****ty and it's hard enough to make sure they're filled out right on a proper computer.

A one-month absence isn't long enough to be a problem with proper planning and it should be ok to not do application activities during that time.

 

[baconshrimps]

I really wouldn't suggest submitting secondaries over a mobile device on questionable internet even if such a thing is technically possible. You want everything about your application to be perfect; perfectly proofread, submitted correctly the first time, all the right boxes checked. Some of those secondary websites are really ****** and it's hard enough to make sure they're filled out right on a proper computer.

A one-month absence isn't long enough to be a problem with proper planning and it should be ok to not do application activities during that time.

Oh, memories lol. I was on my way to work during a summer research gig (about a 1 hour commute) and a secondary came in via email on my iPhone. I pulled over, WiFi hot-spotted my computer, and submitted the secondary because I pre-wrote it. I still haven't heard back from them though, and this was in July. It's okay, I was already accepted somewhere much better

 

[deleted592396]

Thanks for the responses! Yes, I definitely am not counting on being able to submit or work on anything while I am there. Even if it might be possible technically, I do not think I will have very much time to work on applications. If I can get my parents to submit my completed application on my behalf in early June, do you all think a month is a okay amount of time to let it sit unchecked (while its being verified and then secondaries are being sent out)? Because I feel like I might not be able to turn in secondaries in time if I leave in July and then they will go unanswered for a month.

 

[baconshrimps]

Thanks for the responses! Yes, I definitely am not counting on being able to submit or work on anything while I am there. Even if it might be possible technically, I do not think I will have very much time to work on applications. If I can get my parents to submit my completed application on my behalf in early June, do you all think a month is a okay amount of time to let it sit unchecked (while its being verified and then secondaries are being sent out)? Because I feel like I might not be able to turn in secondaries in time if I leave in July and then they will go unanswered for a month.

The earliest deadline for resubmission of secondaries I have seen is October 1st/15th, with the vast majority of schools having a later deadline (Think November 31st - January 15th, that window.) Only a handful of schools will require you to submit the secondary application very soon after sending it to you - University of Conneticuit required a 4 week turnaround, and I think maybe Virginia Commonwealth University and Loyola University and UCLA requested a quick turn-around as well, but those are the only 4 I can think of that you might run into a problem with a small return-window. Maybe someone else can chime in on their experience as well?

 

[terp720]

Thanks for the responses! Yes, I definitely am not counting on being able to submit or work on anything while I am there. Even if it might be possible technically, I do not think I will have very much time to work on applications. If I can get my parents to submit my completed application on my behalf in early June, do you all think a month is a okay amount of time to let it sit unchecked (while its being verified and then secondaries are being sent out)? Because I feel like I might not be able to turn in secondaries in time if I leave in July and then they will go unanswered for a month.

The earliest deadline for resubmission of secondaries I have seen is October 1st/15th, with the vast majority of schools having a later deadline (Think November 31st - January 15th, that window.) Only a handful of schools will require you to submit the secondary application very soon after sending it to you - University of Conneticuit required a 4 week turnaround, and I think maybe Virginia Commonwealth University and Loyola University and UCLA requested a quick turn-around as well, but those are the only 4 I can think of that you might run into a problem with a small return-window. Maybe someone else can chime in on their experience as well?

I had a different experience- many schools I applied to specificially requested 2-3 weeks turn around. It may not be a hard deadline, but the "2 week" turnaround seems to be pretty common advice.
If you submit your primary at the beginning of June, your information won't be sent to schools until the end of June. If you're abroad in June, that means you'll be back by July when the secondaries come in and you can submit them earlier. Even if you don't have access to internet, you could take a list of secondary questions and start pre-writing while you're abroad. As catalystik said, this would depend on having someone reliable who could submit your primary on time if possible.
On the other hand, if you submit in June, then go abroad in July, your secondaries may be sitting in your inbox for a month until you get back.

 

[Catalystik]

I had a different experience- many schools I applied to specificially requested 2-3 weeks turn around. It may not be a hard deadline, but the "2 week" turnaround seems to be pretty common advice.

This experience is closer to what I've observed as well.

 

[DokterMom]

1) As I recall, AMCAS opened for submission on June 4 last year, so don't count on being able to do so June 1 of this year. Is there a trusted someone in your life (a helicopter parent would be ideal here) that you'd trust to pay the fee and submit your already completed AMCAS Primary application with your legal permission, assuming the Certification Statement allows for this?

2) Yes, since, as mentioned above, AMCAS doesn't transmit completed applications to med schools, even though transcripts were verified, until toward the end of June. To be sure that Secondary invitations don't sit in your inbox, you might consider applying to a single school initially, just to get verification going. You can easily add and pay for additional schools later, with those schools receiving the entire application within a business day of being added to your list (since it would be July by then).

Catalystik nailed it --

Get yourself a new 'Med School Only' email address and have your parents monitor it while you're gone (in JUNE). Sign a temporary, scope-limited power of attorney so they can legally act on your behalf with regard to med school applications while you're gone. If necessary, they can respond to any early and time-sensitive secondaries with a "Kitty is unavailable doing field research in Africa and will respond shortly after she returns July 1st." (Free commercial ) When you get back, thank your parents for holding down the fort and change your password 😉

 

[Mad Jack]

Catalystik nailed it --

Get yourself a new 'Med School Only' email address and have your parents monitor it while you're gone (in JUNE). Sign a temporary, scope-limited power of attorney so they can legally act on your behalf with regard to med school applications while you're gone. If necessary, they can respond to any early and time-sensitive secondaries with a "Kitty is unavailable doing field research in Africa and will respond shortly after she returns July 1st." (Free commercial ) When you get back, thank your parents for holding down the fort and change your password 😉

I wouldn't do the whole they're unavailable in Africa bit. It could come off as making yourself sound way more important than you actually are. Might as well add dictated but not read to the bottom of your secondaries while you're at it.

 

[baconshrimps]

I wouldn't do the whole they're unavailable in Africa bit. It could come off as making yourself sound way more important than you actually are. Might as well add dictated but not read to the bottom of your secondaries while you're at it.

LOL!

 

[Catalystik]

Get yourself a new 'Med School Only' email address and have your parents monitor it while you're gone (in JUNE). Sign a temporary, scope-limited power of attorney so they can legally act on your behalf with regard to med school applications while you're gone. . . . . When you get back, thank your parents for holding down the fort and change your password 😉

Good strategy!

 

[snowflakes]

Start your AMCAS in May. Get everything ready to hit submit by June 1st. If possible, hit submit yourself on June 1st. If submission is delayed like this year, leave your parents instructions how to log in and hit submit for you. Only add one school--one that you're not too invested in. Go abroad in June. Take a list of secondary topics for schools you're interested in and work on them while you're abroad. Come back in July to a verified AMCAS and one secondary in your email inbox. Add all your other schools and submit secondaries in July/August (depending on how much prewriting you were able to accomplish while abroad). Good luck!

 

[baconshrimps]

Start your AMCAS in May. Get everything ready to hit submit by June 1st. If possible, hit submit yourself on June 1st. If submission is delayed like this year, leave your parents instructions how to log in and hit submit for you. Only add one school--one that you're not too invested in. Go abroad in June. Take a list of secondary topics for schools you're interested in and work on them while you're abroad. Come back in July to a verified AMCAS and one secondary in your email inbox. Add all your other schools and submit secondaries in July/August (depending on how much prewriting you were able to accomplish while abroad). Good luck!

This sounds like the best move, frankly.