Is it a bad idea to do an away Sub-I in August? Apparently NRMP match registration “begins” Aug 15. Does that mean I would have to be working on my application during my Sub-I?

Start your ERAS application ASAP, and do it before you leave.  That way doing the NRMP stuff will only take like 30 minutes.

I did one in Oct....so no worries.

I also have the option to do my Sub-I’s in June and July instead, and be back by August.
I would have home NS letters plus a letter from my first Sub-I already by the time NRMP opens, plus the second Sub-I letter might also be done by the time I submit.
Is that a better plan?

The impression that I seem to get is that if you don’t have your sub-i letters in right when the ERAS opens up, it’s not that big of deal. Many people just upload them when the get them.  As for myself, I’ll be doing one sub-i in august and one (hopefully) in oct., mainly because I don’t have a lot of choice.  I’ve also been told if you don’t have them uploaded in time you can bring a copy with you on interviews too.

From my understanding, NRMP is in charge of your rank list, while your actual application is done through ERAS.  According to the ERAS site, the first day you can start working on your application is July 1st, while the first day you can start applying for programs is September 1st.  So if you do your Sub-I in August, should be fine.

http://www.aamc.org/students/eras/timeline/start.htm

Anyone have recommendations on where to place a required 4-week neurology elective within 3 neurosurgery sub-i’s, if you have May, June, July, Aug/Sep to schedule these 4 experiences?

The advantage of doing a Neurosurg Sub-i in May or June is that not many people are doing them at this time.  If you got to a place that generally has a lot of people rotate through, then you are doing it when there are less people and this will mean much more face time.  Most people do sub-is July—September, then the application is due. 

My only $0.02 about when to take your neurology rotation is you can do it early so you should be good to go with your exam and neuroanatomy for your sub-is, or you can schedule it somewhere in the middle to take a break from 3 sub-is in a row.  Two isn’t bad, but I was a little burned out after 3 in a row.  Personally, I would do it early.