Unreachable for Interview Invite?

[MalibuPreMD]

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Hi all, I am looking for advice:

I submitted my primary 6/20 and am hoping to have most secondaries completed before leaving the US for 3 weeks Aug 7. I will be climbing in Tanzania with my father in a location without telephone or internet. Should I notify schools when I send in my secondaries that I will be out of the country during that time?

 

[bajastapler]

a fellow climber? eff yeah! Sport? Trad? Boulder?

I think you should explain your situation and follow up with an email a day or two before you leave to remind them.

*also I think it's important to explain that even though your gonna be out of the states your still a serious candidate for this cycle and not someone that should be put off for another cycle.

hope this helps? gl!

 

[justgo]

Did you put an alternate contact on your AMCAS? Can you leave your cell phone with someone who can schedule interviews for you (ie your alternate contact on the AMCAS) can you give your email account access to someone? I've been living abroad in these sorts of locations for the last 6 years...you must get creative. Also, you might be surprised about the level of access in Tanzania, which is a very developed country for Africa. You can likely get a USB key GPRS internet system to connect on your PC for under $100 from almost anywhere in the country. You might consider that an option as well. Look around on the internet to see what the connectivity options might be where you are going. You can also of course get a Tanzanian cell phone when you get into country for likely pretty cheap ($30). I lived in Kigoma almost 10 years ago now and we already had cell phone reception, though it was/is a more remote part of the country.

It's nice to disconnect sometimes, but this is sort of the most important month of your application life I would say.....

 

[Avoidthetiger]

Did you put an alternate contact on your AMCAS? Can you leave your cell phone with someone who can schedule interviews for you (ie your alternate contact on the AMCAS) can you give your email account access to someone? I've been living abroad in these sorts of locations for the last 6 years...you must get creative. Also, you might be surprised about the level of access in Tanzania, which is a very developed country for Africa. You can likely get a USB key GPRS internet system to connect on your PC for under $100 from almost anywhere in the country. You might consider that an option as well. Look around on the internet to see what the connectivity options might be where you are going. You can also of course get a Tanzanian cell phone when you get into country for likely pretty cheap ($30). I lived in Kigoma almost 10 years ago now and we already had cell phone reception, though it was/is a more remote part of the country.

I agree with the above. I'm a pretty average applicant and I scheduled several interviews during this time (6), and even had my first interview August 28th. You don't want schools holding off interview invites because you are unreachable... they might never get back to you, or they might just send the email - and by the time you get it, all the spots could be filled...or you will be a later interview.
I would have a trustworthy person just have a copy of your fall schedule, and schedule interviews for you ASAP while you are gone, If that type of person doesn't exist, get access to the internet while abroad.

edit: Just to clarify - 3 were from MD schools. Virginia Tech, MCW, and Creighton all sent me interview invites before the end of August.

 

[mauberley]

I had a similar question, will be going to Asia for 3 weeks in August.. So I take it schools schedule interviews via phone and not email..? That sucks, I was under the impression it was done via email or internet or something, bleh

No, most of them are done by email//web. As are rejections. 🙁

 

[SisterDisco08]

When I asked a school what I could do while waiting for responses they said "put an alternate contact on your application, and just GO somewhere"

I think they're pretty understanding, especially if you're doing something like climbing in Tanzania

 

[phltz]

Hi all, I am looking for advice:

I submitted my primary 6/20 and am hoping to have most secondaries completed before leaving the US for 3 weeks Aug 7. I will be climbing in Tanzania with my father in a location without telephone or internet. Should I notify schools when I send in my secondaries that I will be out of the country during that time?

Where exactly are you going to be? I think you're underestimating the cell phone network in Tanzania - the vast majority of the country has cell coverage. You can be in the middle of the mountains, miles from the nearest road, and still get a perfectly good signal.

 

[Avoidthetiger]

No, most of them are done by email//web. As are rejections. 🙁

Forgot to mention the above. Pretty much all interview invites are done over email and then you schedule over the web. I think I only got a phone call when accepted... and even that was rare (and awkward).

You basically either need to have access to the internet yourself, or have someone check your email and schedule you while you are abroad. You can also make a unique email address for med school, so that way someone could check it and not be reading all your email.

 

[Supisak]

Crazy thought here, how about setting up an auto response in your email that states you will be out of the country from x to y and that you will be incommunicado until then,
and if you are totally paranoid you will miss an early invite (need stellar stats for this or just lucky) then give you login an password to family / TRUSTED friend and have them check regularly and ask them to contact any institution that emails an invite during that time.
Realistically looking at your date range most MD schools don't start interviews until Sept / late Aug. Considering that and the number of really early invites I would guess that you will likely have no troubles (unless you are applying DO then all bets are off)

= Don't worry and have fun!

 

[alwaysaangel]

I definitely wouldn't tell them youll be gone or put an auto response on your email.

Like others suggested, make a fall schedule and give your email access to someone.

They will likely have to do a couple things for you:
Schedule your interviews. Some schools have a limited response window or fill quickly
Respond to late secondaries asking for an extension if they have a due date before you're back.

Should be exclusively email/web but definitely have someone to do it. They'll need your AMCAS ID, schedule and email password.

 

[Hoya2009]

1) Set up a filter that forwards email from .edu addresses to your mom/gf/grandpa/brother/whatever
List your home # as your contact.

2) Tell mom/brother/whatever any restrictions you have on interview days.

3) If any invites come in, they schedule them for you for days you said would be good and you're done.

I was traveling and my mother withdrew me from one school and matriculated me to another when I got off a WL. Just leave a little sheet with important info (AMCAS#, etc...) and instructions.

 

[Windbreaker]

Climbing Kili?