Prepping for OMS IV

5 tips on using vsas to apply for elective clinical rotations, make sure your elective rotations are arranged in a way that will give you the best chance to succeed..

For third-year medical students, an important part of medical school is rapidly approaching. After jumping over the mountain-sized hurdle that is Level 2 or Step 2 and going from crawling to walking on core rotations, the next stop on the road to becoming a physician is choosing elective rotations.

The Visiting Student Application Service (VSAS), now also known as Visiting Student Learning Opportunities, is the service most third-year medical students use to apply to elective rotations for their fourth year. Near the halfway point of third year, a number of medical students know what specialty they are interested in and start using the extensive database provided by VSAS to find the right electives for them.

For me, this was a long, expensive, and methodical process. Although every student is going to have their own approach to handling VSAS and elective rotations, here I will share my approach for those who may find it useful. Here are my 5 tips for applying to electives on VSAS:

personal statement for vslo

1. Take the time to make a game plan.

While applying to elective rotations is not as intense as applying to residency, you should still have a game plan. After all, this is a big stepping-stone toward residency itself.

More importantly, VSAS costs money! Figure out what electives you would like to do, as well as when and where. Is there a specific elective or hospital you want to be at early on in your fourth year? Do you have space for an elective in a specialty that interests you other than the one you are pursuing?

Do not forget to take into account your school’s graduation requirements as well as the role these electives are going to play on your residency application. Remember, you want to show progress as you go through fourth year, and you are going to need letters of recommendation. Make sure your electives are arranged in a way that will give you the best chance for success.

Also, remember to have all your vaccinations in order and up to date!

2. Prepare a short personal statement.

You probably thought this was something you would not have to do for a few more months, right? Wrong! A lot of institutions on VSAS require a personal statement or letter of interest along with your application.

Even the core VSAS application has a ‘Short Bio’ section, where you can include details about yourself. Prepare a short personal statement that you can use when applying to electives.

I recommend always adding a sentence or two about that specific institution to make it more personal. By doing this, you will simply have to add the statement to each application, rather than fumbling to create one and wasting time later.

3. Explore the ‘Institutions’ tab.

This is something I did not pay much attention to initially, and I wish I did. At the top of the VSAS application, there is a tab called ‘Institutions.’ Clicking on it will give you access to all the hospitals and locations that are on VSAS.

Searching through these will provide you with helpful information about things such as when applications are accepted, additional fees for certain institutions, and when you can expect to hear back about the decision on your application.

While it may add some unfortunate depth to the application process, this is still invaluable information to help keep you organized and prepared.

4. Keep track of all your applications.

In addition to the ‘Institutions’ tab, VSAS also has a ‘Tracking’ tab that shows you all of your applications and (if available) the status of those applications.

While this tool is useful, as a neurotic medical student I found it much easier to make my own spreadsheet. I broke this spreadsheet up into the block schedule created by my school. From here, I listed all my applications for each block as well as the status of those applications.

While some may view this as excessive and unnecessary, I found that it was way easier to keep track of what blocks I needed to fill and what options I had to fill them.

5. Look beyond VSAS.

Do not get me wrong, VSAS is an incredibly useful and helpful tool for finding elective rotations. However, not all institutions use VSAS. Some prefer to use their own application service and are even free to apply to!

While there is no specific document or website listing these institutions (I can provide a list of the ones I found to anyone interested), it may be worth your time to do a quick search for them, especially if you know you want to stay in a specific geographic location. I ended up getting several elective rotations this way.

Go forth and apply

Hopefully with these tips, you will be better prepared and feel more confident about finding the elective rotations that are right for you. Best of luck!

Further reading:

7 ways to thrive during clinical rotations

How to get the most out of clinical rotations during your third year

Tiny house living: Traveling with two cats in an Airstream on clinical rotations

Thinking outside the box

6 ways to be a physician without practicing clinical medicine, packing for away rotations: here’s what is essential, driving it home, a housing and real estate guide for physicians and medical trainees, patient care, nonpharmaceutical approaches to alleviating restless leg syndrome symptoms, it takes a village, balancing act: navigating motherhood in medical school, more in training.

As a second-year medical student and mother of a 2-year-old, I am hoping to share my experience with others who are in my position or thinking about starting a family in medical school.

6 states in 12 months: A guide to life on the road during fourth year

Fourth year is what you make it. Rachel Pray, OMS IV, shares how she embraced travel and adventure as much as possible during her fourth year.

Previous article

Next article.

Masood, thank you for writing this article! It was helpful to read about someone who was also pursuing audition rotations in a wide variety of places! I was wondering if you are still willing to share the list of programs that don’t use the VSAS program for audition rotations?

I was wondering the same!

Leave a comment Cancel reply Please see our comment policy

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Latest Updates | Visitation Policies Visitation Policies Visitation Policies Visitation Policies Visitation Policies | COVID-19 Testing | Vaccine Information Vaccine Information Vaccine Information

Family Medicine

Registration and vslo application procedure, registration contacts and application procedure.

UR medical students may enroll for any of these courses through the Medical School Registrar’s Office. Contact: Monique Williams - Medical School Assistant Registrar

Students from other U.S. or select international medical schools should apply via the AAMC's VSLO program. For more information, go to the Medical Education Visiting Students page . The University of Rochester accepts 4th year students for visiting electives. We currently only consider applicants from the following international medical schools:

  • Jagiellonian University Medical School - Krakow, Poland
  • National Taiwan University Medical College - Taipei City, Taiwan
  • Royal College of Surgeons - Ireland
  • Seoul National University College of Medicine - Seoul, South Korea
  • Universidad de Navarra Facultad de Medicina - Pamplona, Spain
  • Universidad Nacional de San Augustin de Arequipa - Arequipa, Peru
  • Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos Facultad de Medicina San Fernando - Lima, Peru

Visiting Clerkship Program

Our Department also welcomes students who apply through the University of Rochester's "Visiting Clerkship Program." If you have already applied to rotate with us through VSLO, you may also apply through the Visiting Clerkship Program. Your application through VSLO will still be considered, even if you are not accepted into the Visiting Clerkship Program.

Program Information

A limited number of visiting clerkship positions are available at the University of Rochester Medical Center from August through November 2022 for select applicants from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine (URiM) or who have a demonstrated vision and commitment to improving the health status of diverse patient populations via patient care, research and/or teaching.   The Visiting Clerkship Program is designed to give students an opportunity to experience training at URMC and to connect with faculty, residents, and 4th year medical students.

  • Funding includes $1,000 for travel and housing.
  • Mentorship opportunities include connection with a faculty mentor and advisor, as well as with a resident and current 4th year medical student from underrepresented backgrounds. Our current trainees serve to introduce visiting students to the medical center, its resources, and the Rochester community.
  • Each student will be given the opportunity to meet with the Residency Program Director(s) relevant to their future careers.

Eligibility

  • Must be a registered student in good standing at their home school while participating in the externship
  • Full-time, final year medical student attending a LCME-accredited U.S. medical school and have completed 3rd year core clerkships
  • Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Have a demonstrated vision and commitment to improving the health status of diverse patient populations via patient care, research and/or teaching

Application Requirements

  • Official transcript
  • USMLE Step score(s)
  • One-page personal statement (Describe your career goals and interest in pursuing a clerkship at URMC, your vision and commitment to improving the health status of diverse patient populations, as well as any information about your future career plans that you think would be helpful in matching you with a URMC program.)
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Letter of support from a Student Affairs Dean
  • Background Check

Application deadline is June 1, 2022.

  • Office of the Deputy Dean
  • MD Admissions Committee
  • Progress Committee
  • EPCC Committee Minutes
  • Thesis Chair Committee
  • Curriculum Mapping Documents
  • PreClerkship Policies
  • Clerkship & ATP Policies
  • University Policy Links
  • Self-Study Task Force
  • You said . . . We did . . .
  • Faculty Training
  • Renovation & Expansion of Student Space
  • Faculty Mentor Responsibilities and Resources
  • Departmental Thesis Chairs
  • First-Year Summer Research
  • Short-term Research
  • One-year Fellowships
  • Travel Info & Reimbursement
  • Research Didactics
  • START Summer Program
  • Master of Health Science
  • Student Research Day
  • Forms, Deadlines & Funding
  • Student Research Team
  • Research Tradition
  • The Yale System
  • How to Apply
  • Dates and Deadlines
  • Fee Waivers
  • Pre-medical Requirements
  • Admissions Team
  • Electives & Subinternships
  • Staying for a Fifth Year
  • Academic Advisors
  • Performance Improvement
  • Residency Applications
  • Meet our Staff & Make an Appointment
  • Wellness Programming: Upcoming Events
  • Peer Advocate Program
  • Day in the life of Med student
  • Hear our Experiences
  • Student Affairs Team
  • Application Process
  • International Students
  • 2024-2025 Budget
  • 2023-2024 Budget
  • 2022-2023 Budget
  • 2021-2022 Budget
  • 2020-2021 Budget
  • 2019-2020 Budget
  • 2018-2019 Budget
  • 2017-2018 Budget
  • 2016-2017 Budget
  • 2015-2016 Budget
  • 2014-2015 Budget
  • Research Funding, Extended Study and Financial Aid
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • PA Online Student Budget
  • FAFSA Application
  • CSS Profile Application
  • How to Avoid Common Errors
  • Student Billing Information
  • Financial Literacy Information
  • External Scholarships
  • Financial Aid Team
  • Certificate in Global Medicine
  • Topics in Global Medicine and Health
  • Global Health Seminar
  • Summer Research Abroad
  • Electives at Other Yale Graduate Schools
  • About the Course
  • South Africa
  • Connecticut
  • Dominican Republic
  • Lectures, Series, & Conferences
  • Community & Advocacy Opportunities
  • Faculty Advisors & Mentors
  • Global Health Team
  • Services & Facilities
  • Program & Faculty Development
  • Education & Research
  • Simulated Participants
  • Simulation Academy at Yale – Youth Entering Science (SAY-YES!)
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Advisory Board
  • HAVEN Free Clinic
  • Neighborhood Health Project
  • Humanities in Medicine
  • Biomedical Ethics
  • Yale Journal of Biology & Medicine
  • University Engagement Opportunities
  • Community Engagement Opportunities
  • Competencies
  • Guiding Principles
  • Graduation Requirements
  • Year 1 Curriculum
  • Year 2 Curriculum
  • Introduction to the Profession (iPro)
  • Scientific Foundations
  • Genes and Development
  • Attacks and Defenses
  • Homeostasis
  • Energy and Metabolism
  • Connection to the World
  • Across the Lifespan
  • Professional Responsibility
  • Scientific Inquiry
  • Populations & Methods
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Diagnostic Methods
  • Domains of the Health Equity Thread
  • Advisory Group
  • Pharmacology
  • Communications Skills
  • Clinical Reasoning
  • Palliative Care
  • Physical Examination
  • Point of Care Ultrasound
  • Early Clinical Experiences
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Primary Care
  • Internal Medicine
  • Recommended Readings
  • Online Learning
  • Interprofessional Educational
  • Anesthesiology
  • Child Study Center
  • Clinical Longitudinal Elective
  • Definitions
  • Dermatology
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Family Medicine
  • Interventional Radiology
  • Laboratory Medicine
  • Neurosurgery
  • Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
  • Ophthalmology and Visual Science
  • Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation
  • Therapeutic Radiology
  • Elective Dates
  • WEC Faculty
  • Non-Clinical Electives
  • Coaching Program
  • Patient-Centered Language
  • Race & Ethnicity
  • Sex & Gender
  • Full Glossary of Terms
  • About The Inclusive Language Initiative
  • Glossary Bibliography
  • Curriculum Team
  • Faculty Attestation
  • Visiting Student Scholarship Program
  • International Student FAQs

INFORMATION FOR

  • Residents & Fellows
  • Researchers

Visiting International Student Elective Program

Eligibility, application, tuition and other costs.

Students studying at international medical schools, must meet the following criteria to be eligible to enroll in up to three four-week clinical elective rotations, through AAMC VSLO.

  • Students must be in good standing.
  • Students must have completed all core clinical clerkships before beginning the clinical elective program.
  • Students must be proficient in the English language.
  • Students must be in their final year of medical studies or completed their core clerkships in order to participate in the elective program.
  • Yale does not provide core clerkships to visiting students, only electives, these electives do not satisfy the requirements of core clerkships.
  • Yale does not offer observerships/externships.

Please note that U.S. residents/citizens studying at international medical schools are not eligible for this program.

We offer clinical electives in many sub-specialties of medicine. These are elective programs and do not meet requirements for core clinical clerkships. All electives are four weeks in length per clinical elective rotation. (We do not offer two-week elective rotations for visiting medical students.) Students may apply for a maximum of three different four-week electives, but these electives must be in different specialties.

This link provides a list of the electives. Please note, not all electives listed accept international students. The description of each elective on the list includes whether international students are accepted or not.

Read the descriptions of electives carefully within the Elective Catalog Listing before selecting your choices in the AAMC VSLO application. You may not change your choices or dates of elective after your application has been submitted to elective department at Yale School of Medicine.

Application Timeline/Deadline

Application for students at schools that are a participating member of the aamc – vslo.

  • VSLO Participating Members

Application for students at schools that are not currently an active member of AAMC – VSLO

  • NON-VSLO Members

Information about what you need to submit as part of your application

  • Please note, non-AAMC VSLO members will need to mail in required documentation within five (5) days of submitting their application.
  • Application Deadline: Your application should be submitted 4 - 6 months before the start of your chosen elective. Applications submitted after the four (4) month deadline will not be considered.
  • Must be uploaded by your home institution through VSLO or as noted in VSLO.
  • The letter of support will need to include verification that student is in the final year of medical school and current class rank.
  • The dean's letter must be written on the medical school's stationary, with the original school seal, the dean's original signature and e-mail address.
  • The dean's letter must include the applicants current class ranking, should class ranking not be available your home institution will need to provide a letter indicating rank is not given.
  • The letter must be in English or accompanied by an English translation.
  • Must be written in English or accompanied by an English translation.
  • Must be uploaded by the applicant.
  • Must list student’s education, completed clinical electives/sub-internships, publications, and other professional accomplishments.
  • Must be from a member of the faculty at student’s medical school who has observed student's clinical skills.
  • This letter, in English or with English translation, must be submitted with the faculty member's original signature on medical school's official stationary.
  • Must be translated in English immunization record and documentation.
  • If the student PPD is positive, student must INCLUDE a copy of chest x-ray report in English or with English translation.
  • The OGHE requires documentation of a quantitative hepatitis B surface antibody titer. A non-quantitative result (i.e. "Positive") is not acceptable.
  • Must be uploaded by applicant.
  • Must detail health insurance coverage for the duration of the clinical elective at Yale.
  • This certificate should be obtained from student’s health insurance company.
  • Proof of Health Insurance is not required at application, but must be submitted upon acceptance.
  • Describes student’s career goals, how this experience will help student achieve them, and what student has accomplished thus far in pursuit of those goals.
  • Also included should be what cultural opportunities student will pursue during his/her stay.

The tuition for a four-week clinical elective for students from international medical schools for academic year 2024-2025 is $4,500 USD. The tuition for eight weeks is $9,000 USD. The tuition for twelve weeks is $13,500 USD. Tuition is subject to increases with every new academic year. This typically happens in July.

Housing Costs

Other costs.

We estimate that minimum living expenses for a month in New Haven will amount to at least $1500, excludes the cost of housing.

Elective/Subinternship Listing

  • Student/Faculty Portal
  • Learning Hub (Brightspace)
  • Continuous Professional Development

Application Process

Each year, the Visiting Medical Student Clerkship Program at Mayo Clinic receives more applications than it has educational opportunities. Selection is determined by the clinical departments and based on medical school transcript grades, successful completion of USMLE/COMLEX Step 1, space availability, and competitiveness for a Mayo Clinic residency. 

Qualifications

Candidates for the Visiting Medical Student Clerkship Program at Mayo Clinic must:

  • Have passed the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1, Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) Level 1, or National Board Dental Examination (NBDE); international applicants must have passed USMLE Step 1
  • Be in the final year of medical school at the time of the clerkship
  • Be in good academic standing at their medical school
  • Have received the required immunizations

International students

In addition to the above requirements, international students must:

  • Have personal health insurance coverage in the amount of a minimum of $50,000 (USD)
  • If instruction at the home medical school is not in English, applicants must show demonstrated fluency in English with successful completion of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination within the last two years. Eligible students must show proof of a minimum score of no lower than 104.
  • Have completed approximately 48 weeks of actual patient care clinical experiences before the start of the clerkship — six to eight weeks each of medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and surgery, and approximately 20 weeks of electives (verification by your medical school is required)
  • Be enrolled in the final year of medical school at the time of their clerkship. For international medical schools that require an internship for the final year, students who will be enrolled in their medical school at the time of their clerkship are eligible to apply. 
  • Submit a $350 (USD) non-refundable application fee 

Mayo Clinic's campus in Jacksonville, Florida, is only able to accept international medical students from institutions that are licensed by the  Florida Commission for Independent Education . At this time, the only international medical schools approved for Florida rotations are:

  • American University of Antigua, Antigua
  • American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, St. Maarten
  • Medical University of the Americas, Nevis
  • Ross University School of Medicine, Barbados
  • Saba University School of Medicine, Netherlands
  • St. George's University School of Medicine, Grenada
  • St. Matthew's University School of Medicine, Cayman Islands
  • UNIBE School of Medicine, Dominican Republic
  • University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Saint Kitts 

International medical students interested in our Florida rotations who attend medical schools not on the approved list must have their medical schools contact the  Florida Commission for Independent Education  to apply for approval. Although the above schools are licensed by the state of Florida, Mayo Clinic’s Visiting Medical Student Clerkship Program only accepts applications via AAMC’s Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO). If you attend a licensed school that does not participate in AAMC, you would not be eligible to apply for a clerkship.

Note:  Mayo Clinic's campuses in Rochester, Minnesota, and Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, can accept medical students from all international medical schools.

Vaccinations

You do not need to submit any immunizations with your VSLO application. Immunization documentation will be required as part of your onboarding process should you be invited for a clerkship rotation. Immunizations required include:

  • Measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chicken pox)
  • Hepatitis B
  • Tetanus/Pertussis
  • Seasonal influenza (only required for students who will be on clerkship rotations from Oct. 1 through March 31)
  • SARS-CoV-2 (proof of vaccination or complete declination process)
  • Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood test completed within three months of your rotations start date (preferred method), or
  • Two-step TB skin test. If a two-step skin test is submitted, the first test should be done not more than 12 months prior to the start of your rotation and a second test within three months prior to the start of your rotation.

Malpractice insurance

Mayo Clinic provides malpractice and liability insurance for any visiting medical student participating in an approved clinical clerkship at no cost to the student. The Verification of Medical School Information form must be completed by the home institution and must indicate whether or not malpractice and liability insurance is provided by the home institution.

How to apply

The Mayo Clinic Visiting Medical Student Clerkship Program uses the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) portal for accepting and processing clerkship applications. Visit Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO®) for additional information on our program and to complete an application.

If you are experiencing any technical issues in completing or submitting your application, contact  AAMC's VSLO support for assistance.

The Visiting Medical Student Clerkship program will not be accepting any applications outside of the VSLO portal. For international students whose medical school is not currently an AAMC participating institution, please see the AAMC website for information on how to initiate the process of having your institution enroll in the application service.

Academic year application timelines

Important notice: In addition to submitting student applications by the specified deadline, your home institution should also submit all required documentation by the deadline to expedite the review process. Clinical departments will begin making decisions to accept applications promptly on the first of the month following the deadline. Applications released by home institutions after the deadline may not be reviewed by the clinical departments.

Clerkships are always four weeks in length, beginning on a Monday and concluding four weeks later on a Friday in full-week increments (with the exception of holidays).

Application details

You may apply to only one Mayo Clinic location. Candidates may submit up to four total applications. Applications submitted for the same department with four different date ranges count as four applications.

To prepare for applications opening in VSLO, you should anticipate the following requirements necessary to apply:

  • Personal statement
  • Medical school transcript
  • Board scores (USMLE/COMLEX)
  • Letters of recommendation should be written by a physician with whom you have worked with that is familiar with your clinical abilities and career goals. Most programs require one letter of recommendation for domestic candidates and two letters of recommendation for global candidates. Exceptions to this include:

Once clerkships have been confirmed, changes in or rescheduling of clerkship assignments are not permitted.

Submit the online application by the appropriate deadline as indicated. It is strongly encouraged to have your home institution follow the same deadline. Clinical departments begin reviewing applications and making decisions promptly on the first of the month following the deadline. Applications released by home institutions after the deadline may not be reviewed by the clinical departments. You will receive a decision approximately six weeks following the submission deadline.

Applications are not processed prior to the submission deadline.

Students accepted for a clerkship must successfully complete all post-decision requirements and adhere to all Mayo Clinic policies, including, but not limited to background checks, immunizations, and required documentation. Failure to complete or adhere to any post-decision requirements will result in the cancellation of the clerkship. Acceptance and participation in Mayo Clinic’s Visiting Medical Student Clerkship Program does not guarantee a letter of recommendation or residency interview.

Rochester, Minnesota

Clerkship Coordinator Mayo Clinic Siebens Building, Fifth Floor 200 First St. SW Rochester, MN 55905 Email:  [email protected]

Jacksonville, Florida

Clerkship Coordinator Mayo Clinic Stabile Building 790N 4500 San Pablo Road Jacksonville, FL 32224 Email:  [email protected]

Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona

Clerkship Coordinator Mayo Clinic Medical Education Office 13400 E. Shea Blvd. Scottsdale, AZ 85259 Email:  [email protected]

Mayo Clinic Health Systems (Eau Claire & La Crosse)

Clerkship Coordinator Mayo Clinic Email:  [email protected]

Warning icon

Application Requirements

Visiting student rotations are designed for students who are enrolled in their final year of medical school and have already completed one full year of in-hospital clinical training. Visitors must have previously completed basic clerkships in internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and surgery. Certain specialty electives may have prerequisites; check each listing in the elective catalog for details.

Because we use the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) program for receiving and processing visiting student applications, we can only accept applications from students who attend the following types of institutions:

  • U.S. medical school: Any LCME-accredited medical school located in the United States or Puerto Rico
  • Osteopathic medical school: Any AOA-accredited Osteopathic medical school
  • Selected students from our Global Partner institutions: A current list of institutions can be found on the Global Partners page  and on the Global Partner Application  form

Unfortunately, we can not accept applicants from schools located outside the contiguous 48 states, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, with the exception of Global Partner institutions.

A fully executed affiliation agreement must be in place before a visiting student can rotate at Feinberg. For a listing of institutions with affiliation agreements in place, see the most recent affiliation agreement report .

Clerkship assignments for visiting students are made after our own students’ schedules have been completed for the upcoming academic year. Northwestern students always have priority on available clerkships.

Do not contact course directors, coordinators or faculty for any reason during the application process. Contacting any of these parties may result in your ineligibility for current and future rotations.

VSLO Application Requirements

Requirements completed by student.

  • CV/Resume (please upload document as PDF)
  • USMLE Step 1 score or COMLEX score: Submit a scan your score report.
  • Immunization/Health Form : All students applying through VSLO must use the AAMC Standardized Immunization Form. Upload the completed three page form and supporting labs and documents as a single PDF in the immunization forms section of VSLO.
  • Health Insurance: Submit a scan of the front and back of your insurance card.
  • Visiting Student Policy Acknowledgement
  • BLS or ACLS Certification: Submit a scan of your BLS or ACLS completion card.
  • NPI Number (if you do not have an NPI number, you can apply on the CMS website.)
  • COVID-19/Coronavirus Vaccine: all visiting students to Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine are required to be fully vaccinated and submit documentation at least 28 days prior to rotation start date.

Requirements Completed by School Official (e.g., Registrar, Clinical Coordinator)

  • Letter of recommendation: This letter must be written by a faculty member who has observed you clinically and must comment on your clinical abilities and performance. Some departments have specific letter of recommendation requirements. Please refer to the elective descriptions for details. Only documents that have a faculty member's signature and are written on official letterhead will be accepted.
  • Current transcript with key
  • Feinberg School of Medicine Assessment Form Agreement: Effective May 1, 2019, all visiting students at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine will be graded using our assessment form.
  • Verification of medical liability and/or malpractice insurance: Students are required to have coverage of $1 million per occurrence/$3 million aggregate. If school does not provide this, student will need to purchase supplemental coverage and submit Certificate of Insurance prior to beginning rotation.

Check the elective descriptions on VSLO carefully. Some departments have specific requirements in addition to those mentioned above. For example, many electives also require a personal statement.

No documentation will be accepted via postal mail, fax, in an email or email attachment. All application documents must be submitted through VSLO only. For more information, please visit the VSLO site or contact VSLO at [email protected] or 202-478-9878.

  • UNC Chapel Hill

Application Process

Applications to UNC’s Visiting Student Program are accepted on a semester/term basis. Students from domestic medical schools, MD and DO are invited to apply.

If you are applying via VSLO, we recommend that you submit more than one elective request with your application.  If your first elective request is denied, we may be able to grant acceptance for an alternate elective request. But we will only place you in an elective and block for which you have submitted an elective request.  If you wish to be considered for an alternative elective or month, please submit separate elective requests for each month and course.

The Academic Calendar is split into the 2 terms; Spring (March to June), Fall (July to December). Each term will have a dedicated Application, Scheduling, and Notification Cycle associated with it. Ensure that you are submitting your application during the appropriate cycle. Please view our  Calendar Page  for more information on important dates for each term and our Program Requirements page for more information on Application Requirements.

Application Cycle

US-Based MD and DO students are eligible to apply through the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) Program .

Applications will not be reviewed during this Cycle so there is no incentive for applying early, but be sure to submit your application before the Cycle closes.  Late applications will not be considered.

Decision/Scheduling Cycle

After the application cycle, UNC will spend one (1) month reviewing applications for acceptance and generating the scheduling for the term. Students will be granted one of three different statuses.

Accepted: Students are fully accepted to the program and will be added to the schedule based on course availability and student preference.

Denied: Students have not been accepted into the program and will not be scheduled for a rotation during the current term.

Notification Cycle

Once the Decision/Scheduling Cycle has concluded, students will be notified of UNC’s decision. Students who have been accepted will receive offers for rotations.  Waitlisted students will be notified of their status, but may not receive an offer rotation.  Waitlisted students can receive an offer up to 60 days before the rotation start date.

Denied students will also be notified of their status. Denied students cannot be scheduled for the current term for which they received the denial but are welcome to apply for other terms as long as they still meet the eligibility requirements.

VSLO Application Terms

View vslo terminology.

Accepted Conditional Offer Applicant has accepted the conditional offer and will need to submit the Accepted/Rotation Requirements.

Application This is your overall application including personal information, transcripts, malpractice insurance, personal statements, etc.

Conditionally Eligible The application has missing items and the elective request will not be considered for placement until the issues have been resolved.

Conditional Offer The elective request has been approved by the departments and offered to the applicant. There is a one-week time limit on all offers.

Elective Experiences This is the total number of rotations that an applicant would like to complete.

Elective Request This is the individual elective that you have applied for. Ex: ANES 401 in Block 6.

Eligible The application is complete and is now in the scheduling process.

Host Rejected The department was unable to accommodate that particular elective request. This does not mean that all elective requests or the entire application have been denied.

Home Released The elective request has been received by the school and the departments are able to review it for placement consideration.  However, the elective request will not be considered until the application is marked as eligible.

Ineligible The overall application has been denied and no elective request will be considered.

Offer Confirmed Accepted/Rotation Requirements have been verified and the conditional offer has been officially approved.

Offer Expired No decision has been made by the applicant on the elective request offer within the one-week time frame. The applicant has effectively declined the offer to rotate.

Pending The application has not been reviewed for eligibility.

Post-Decision Review Accepted/Rotation Requirements have been submitted to, but not reviewed by, UNC.

Post Requirements Complete Applicant has completed the Accepted/Rotation Requirements but has not assigned them to UNC.

  • Professional Service

VSLO® Program for Institutions

The VSLO ® program helps medical and public health students connect with institutions offering short-term elective opportunities that can enhance their medical education.

Institutions that join the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO ® ) program may post elective opportunities in the VSLO application service and/or allow students to apply for electives posted by other participating institutions. The VSLO program provides support for away rotations and promotes best practices in diverse settings and contexts. Through institutional collaboration, members contribute to innovation and broaden their connections and outreach.

Log into the VSLO application service

Vslo resources, trainings, and updates, how to participate in the vslo® program.

70-aamc-news-student-clerkship-article-header.jpg__992x558_q85_crop-smart_subsampling-2_upscale

Medical Schools

Learn how you can send your students to learning opportunities and host students in the United States and globally.

An older medical student smiles

Hospitals and Health Organizations

Meet and mentor medical students as they explore specialty interests.

Medical students collaborating inside the classroom

Medical Students

Guide students as they navigate the away-rotation application process.

Discover the Value of Becoming a Host Institution in the VSLO Program

Is your institution interested in hosting medical students for short-term away rotation opportunities? The VSLO program helps medical and public health students connect with institutions offering short-term elective opportunities that can enhance their medical education. Learn more about the VSLO program and how your institution will benefit from joining the VSLO network of more than 300 medical schools and teaching hospitals, located in the United States and internationally.

Learn More About VSLO®

Medical student writing in the laboratory

Find complete listings of institutions participating in the VSLO® program.

A medical resident speaks to two of her colleagues while holding a medical chart.

Search for electives in the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) application service.

Doctor giving instructions to medical students while seeing a patient

IMAGES

  1. Perfect your vslo personal statement by Thepsdoctor

    personal statement for vslo

  2. Writing a Strong Personal Statement for College: Tips and Ideas

    personal statement for vslo

  3. Writing Effective Skill Statements:

    personal statement for vslo

  4. (DOC) Personal Statement

    personal statement for vslo

  5. 🔥 Research personal statement examples. How to Draft Personal Statement

    personal statement for vslo

  6. Writing A Personal Statement For Graduate School Speech Language

    personal statement for vslo

VIDEO

  1. Season 2 All Upcoming Bundles Modern Warfare 3 & Warzone 3

  2. Ram Dass

  3. Conoce este método de Defensa Personal Pencak Silat SATRIA

  4. Dhundhla Nazar Ho Ya Kam Sunai deta Ho

  5. Wormzone.io🔴

  6. PERSONAL STATEMENT

COMMENTS

  1. PDF Personal Statement/Letter of Intent for Away Rotations & Away Rotation

    VSLO LOR 1. Follow all requirements on the program specific VSLO site a. Example- if it says you need a Chair LOR or a LOR specifically from someone in that field b. Letters need to be from attendings (not residents) 2. Ask your letter writer early and provide a copy of your CV and your VSLO PS/Letter of intent 3.

  2. 5 tips on using VSAS to apply for elective clinical rotations

    Here are my 5 tips for applying to electives on VSAS: 1. Take the time to make a game plan. While applying to elective rotations is not as intense as applying to residency, you should still have a game plan. After all, this is a big stepping-stone toward residency itself. More importantly, VSAS costs money!

  3. How to Use the VSLO® Application Service

    When applicable, the VSLO application service will guide you through the process of fulfilling and submitting these requirements for the Host institution to review. Some examples of post-decision requirements may include, but are not limited to, a copy of your passport, immunization records, or proof of HIPAA training. The VSLO® application ...

  4. PDF Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) Application Guide 2020-2021

    Personal Statement or Writing Samples Application Materials Required by All Schools Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) Application In January, each student will receive 20 authorizations to start applications in the VSLO system. Authorizations are automatically replenished when the student has fewer than five remaining.

  5. Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO®)

    The VSLO program is only accessible to students at participating Home institutions. It's easy for your school to join the VSLO program. 202-478-9878. Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET. [email protected]. Contact the VSLO Team.

  6. Tips to Prepare for the Away Rotation Application

    Yes - some schools will want a personal statement, or a paragraph explaining why you want to rotate at their program. This will require some time to edit, and for others to proofread. ... Know who to email to have your transcript uploaded to VSLO . All your classmates will also be applying at the same time, and this can overwhelm the student ...

  7. Applying for Away Rotations EMRA

    The VSAS/VSLO site is a portal for away and global rotations in all specialties. Specific to EM, the EMRA Match tool allows applicants to browse, search, and filter residency programs (240 listed for 2018) and clerkships (145 listed for 2018).

  8. Registration and VSLO Application Procedure

    Registration and VSLO Application Procedure ... One-page personal statement (Describe your career goals and interest in pursuing a clerkship at URMC, your vision and commitment to improving the health status of diverse patient populations, as well as any information about your future career plans that you think would be helpful in matching you ...

  9. Visiting International Student Elective Program < MD Program

    The tuition for a four-week clinical elective for students from international medical schools for academic year 2024-2025 is $4,500 USD. The tuition for eight weeks is $9,000 USD. The tuition for twelve weeks is $13,500 USD. Tuition is subject to increases with every new academic year. This typically happens in July.

  10. Visiting Medical Student Clerkships Application Process

    Have personal health insurance coverage in the amount of a minimum of $50,000 (USD) ... (VSLO). If you attend a licensed school that does not participate in AAMC, you would not be eligible to apply for a clerkship. ... Personal statement; CV; Medical school transcript; Board scores (USMLE/COMLEX) Letter(s) of recommendation

  11. M3's filling out the VSLO application: Are you including a personal

    You may wish to provide a personal statement or details about yourself that cannot be found in other documents so that host institutions can learn more about you." Closed • total votes Yes, submitting a full personal statement ... Having gotten quite a few VSLO offers last year, this is not necessary. I avoided even applying to programs ...

  12. Application Requirements

    For example, many electives also require a personal statement. No documentation will be accepted via postal mail, fax, in an email or email attachment. All application documents must be submitted through VSLO only. For more information, please visit the VSLO site or contact VSLO at [email protected] or 202-478-9878.

  13. VSLO® Resources and Training

    The VSLO student infographic provides information to assist students (and advisors guiding students) through the process of developing individual away rotation strategies. The infographic illustrates a range of data points, including specialty data, average time between application submission and elective start dates, cadence of student and ...

  14. VSLO

    Apply to the VSLO program. 2024-2025 elective courses for U.S visiting students. Typical three-week blocks for electives. DGSOM medical student policies and guidelines. Disclaimer: The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is not responsible for determining whether, or in what way, the UCLA elective is to be credited toward the requirements ...

  15. Application Process

    VSLO Application Terms. View VSLO Terminology ... This is your overall application including personal information, transcripts, malpractice insurance, personal statements, etc. Conditionally Eligible The application has missing items and the elective request will not be considered for placement until the issues have been resolved.

  16. PDF Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO)

    The AAMC Visiting Student Learning OpportunitiesTM (VSLOTM) is a program that enables medical and public health students to pursue short-term learning opportunities in the United States and globally. The VSLO program supports students through the process of searching for electives, submitting applications, and completing their resulting ...

  17. PDF VSLO Document Checklist

    VSLO Document Checklist . This is the list of required documents and certificates that are required by most Institutions. This is not complete list. Applicants should check with the Host Institution for the ... Personal Statement/Statement of Interest Applicant ...

  18. VSLO® Program for Institutions

    The VSLO ® program helps medical and public health students connect with institutions offering short-term elective opportunities that can enhance their medical education.. Institutions that join the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO ®) program may post elective opportunities in the VSLO application service and/or allow students to apply for electives posted by other ...

  19. VSAS personal statement : r/medicalschool

    VSAS personal statement. ️Serious. I am a rising M4 (at US MD school) and will be applying to ENT residencies in the fall. A few programs that I am applying to for an away rotation require a personal statement. What is the format of the personal statement for aways?

  20. [Serious] Away rotations Letter of interest vs personal statement

    I wrote an extremely short personal statement for away rotations (like 2 paragraphs) which was like a polished first draft of what my actual longer personal statement ended up being for ERAS. For the places I applied for aways they either only asked for a letter of intent or a personal statement so I did end up using similar things.

  21. vslo

    Are you a medical or public health student looking for learning opportunities away from your home institution? VSLO - AAMC is the program for you. VSLO - AAMC connects you with hundreds of clinical and research electives in different countries and regions. Learn how to apply, find your ideal elective, and join the VSLO - AAMC network today.

  22. VSLO® Frequently Asked Questions

    You can provide feedback directly via our VSLO Feedback Form , or by contacting our Client Technical Support team at 202-478-9878. The Post Rotation Student Survey, sent directly to students as they return from an away rotation, provides another avenue for feedback.

  23. Personal Statement

    The personal statement is limited to 28,000 characters, which include letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation marks. There is not a limit to how many personal statements applicants can create. Personal statements created outside the MyERAS application should be done in a plain text word processing application such as Notepad (for Windows ...