vslo personal statement length

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:

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

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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!

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• 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]

• UNC Chapel Hill

Application Information

Vslo application terms.

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

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

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

Pending The application has not been reviewed for eligibility.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Application Overview

Applications are accepted all year long with a few restrictions on certain electives and departments.

All applications must be submitted and completed (Eligible Status) six (6) weeks before the first day of the desired rotation in order to be considered for placement. You may be scheduled for an elective after the 6-week deadline, but only if you have submitted an application. It is best to get your application in well before this deadline as space is limited and elective openings have the tendency to be filled quickly.

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 time period for which you have submitted an elective request.  If you wish to be considered for alternative elective or n=months, please submit separate elective requests for each individual month and course.

Application Process

Every student’s application will be checked to ensure Eligibility Requirements are met before the application will move into the Scheduling Phase. Applications may be denied if a student does not meet all Eligibility Requirements. The visiting student coordinator will review and let applicants know if their application is missing any information. All students will be marked as Conditionally Eligible at this point and will be given the opportunity to address any inconsistencies in their eligibility requirements before being denied. If the applicant never attempts to address these issues, their application may be marked as Ineligible.

Elective requests from applications that are in Conditional Status (Incomplete) after the Block’s Application deadline will be denied. You may submit another elective request for a different time and turn in missing materials before the next deadline. Once your application is marked Eligible (complete), you will move into the Scheduling Phase. We try to place applicants based on their preference list. Therefore, it is recommended that you arrange elective requests in order of the most desired elective and block combination.

The Scheduling Phase

UNC School of Medicine will open for applicants to start submitting a VSLO application on Jan. 21, 2020. Please keep in mind that you will only have about 2-weeks to submit applications for the March rotation block deadline on JFeb. 1st, 2020. UNC students are registered for their electives before visiting students are allowed to submit their applications. If you are unable to apply for a certain Block in VSLO, then that Block is currently full and/or not offered.

Elective availability is ever-changing. Courses may become open as the year progresses due to drop/add requests by UNC students and as applicants accept, deny and drop scheduled electives. Keep checking the VSLO offering as blocks that are currently closed may become available later in the year.

For the 2020-21 Academic Year, the scheduling of electives will occur in two phases.

Phase 1 will begin on Jan 21, 2020.  During Phase 1 students will only be allowed to apply for and be scheduled for the first four Blocks (Mar 2 – Jun 19, 2020).

Phase 2 will begin on Apr 01, 2020.  During Phase 2 students will be able to apply for and be scheduled for the remaining Blocks (Jun 29, 2020 – Feb 26, 2021).  The elective request will still be accepted for the remaining Phase 1 blocks.

The two Phases align with the UNC Student Scheduling Process.

All courses at our Asheville Campus as well as DERM 401, ERMD 401, ERMD 402, FMME 453, OTOL 450, ORTS 440, ORTS 448, SURY 436 and SURY 456 are exempt from the scheduling phases and will accept students all year long starting Jan. 14th.

An elective request will be processed first-come, first-served based upon eligibility review and academic merit, thus applicants who apply early and have applications marked as eligible may be reviewed by departments sooner, but being reviewed first does not guarantee that an offer will be extended.

All elective requests must receive departmental approval before an offer can be extended. This is completed internally, so please do not email departments directly asking for permission and/or updates. After a decision has been made, applicants will be notified in VSLO of their acceptance or denial. There is no set timeline for scheduling elective requests, but we attempt to let applicants know within two months of applying and at least two months before the elective start date. Please note that this timeline is not set in stone and many factors can affect this estimate for an individual applicant.

Once an offer has been made to an applicant, the applicant will have one week to accept/deny the offer. If the offer expires, it will not be re-sent. Applicants who allow one (1) offer to expire without any communication to the Visiting Student Coordinator for two (2) weeks after the expiration will have all other elective requests denied.

If the applicant indicates that only one (1) elective experience is desired, all other elective requests will be denied once the student accepts the first offer to rotate. If two (2) or more experiences have been requested, then the scheduling process will start over with attempts to secure a second and/or third elective offer.

If the applicant declines an offer to rotate but has other pending elective requests, we will continue to find a placement based on the remaining options.

If the applicant no longer wishes to be considered for an elective placement, please WITHDRAW ALL elective requests that have been submitted. We will continue to process all elective requests as long as they are still active.

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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.

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.

Wayne State University

School of medicine, records and registration records and registration, vslo for wsu students, best practices.

• Complete a Home Course Rotation and Step 2 before applying for an Away Elective
• Target a maximum of 4 Host Institutions and a maximum of 3 to 5 Applications per Host
• Do not schedule Away Electives during Interview Months
• Plan on giving 110% and 100% Attendance during your rotation
• Most Away Elective Applications are in July, August, January and February
• Many Host Institutions want to see a Personal Statement or Statement of Interest in Profile
• Have a Back-up Plan

1. Access to the VSLO Application Service

You will be invited by your Home Institution before you may access the VSLO Application Service. If you have used other AAMC services (AMCAS, MCAT, etc.), you will then sign into the VSLO Application Service with your AAMC Account Username and Password. Otherwise, you will be able to create an AAMC Account.

Complete Your Profile

Once your create your VSLO Account, you will Create your Profile and provide your Personal and Academic Information through the VSLO Application Service, including Contact and Biographical Information.

Upload Your Documents

Upload any required documentation by a Host Institution (Photo, Statement of Purpose, Letter of Good Standing, CV, Immunizations Records, and Supplemental Documentation). Assign these documents to a specific Host Institution or Elective Application accordinlgy. Your school is responsible for uploading your Official Transcript after you have completed your entire application.

Review Host Institution Information

Review General Information about each participating Host Institution and their Key Application dates and fees (Each Host Institution may have different requirements).

Search For and Save Electives

Use the Elective Search to find Elective opportunities based on, but not limited to, Specialty, Host Institution, and Geographic Location. You may then view the Description, Application Requirements, and Available Dates for each Elective. You may also save theEelectives in which you are interested for future consideration.

2. Submit Your Application

Acknowledge Applicant Agreement

Students must agree to the terms and conditions that govern their use of the VSLO Application Service, including truthfulness in their application materials, release of personal information, and acknowledgment that they must remain engaged and responsive during the Elective Application Process.

Complete Host Requirements

Requirements vary between Host Institutions and the Electives for which you are Applying. You will fulfill all requirements within the VSLO Application Service as you submit your elective requests

Pay Application Service Fee

Students will pay a $40 USD base fee which includes up to three electives (to any institution; in the U.S. or Global Network) and any quantity of elective dates. Additional electives are $15 USD each.

3. After Submitting Your Application

Home Institution Reviews Applications

Once you have submitted your Applications, your Home Institution will verify information about you and fulfill any additional Host requirements before releasing the application to Host Institutions for review.

Track Your Application

You can easily track the status of your applications are they move through the VSLO Application Service.  For example, you can view if your application is Pending Release by your Home Institution or if it is Awaiting Review by a Host Institution.

Resubmit a Requirement

If necessary, a Host Institution may request you resubmit a fulfilled requirement. After receiving an email notification you would resubmit the requirement through the Tracking Area of the VSLO Application Service.

Withdraw or Reinstate Your Application

If you have submitted an Application and are no longer interested in the Elective, you can Withdraw your application. If you change your mind and the elective and date are still available, you can reinstate your application and it will continue through the Application Process.

Accept, Decline, or Drop an Offer

You may Accept or Decline offers received from Host Institutions. It is important to respond to an offer within the time allotted to ensure the Host Institution can prepare for your visit. It is possible to Drop an accepted offer if circumstances no longer allow you to attend the elective opportunity.

Complete Post-Decision Requirements

While you will submit some requirements with your Application request, Host Institutions may also require additional "post-decision" requirements be submitted only if you accept their Elective Offer. When applicable, the VSLO Application Service will guide you through the process of fulfilling and submitting these requirements for the Host 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.

• 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.

Medical Schools

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

Hospitals and Health Organizations

Meet and mentor medical students as they explore specialty interests.

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®

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

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