AAMC VSLO Application

What is VSLO, and how does it differ from regular electives?

• VSLO stands for “Visiting Student Learning Opportunities”. It is an application portal through the AAMC for fourth-year rotations, and contains the bulk of learning opportunities that are available to you as a visiting student. On the VSLO site, you can search for rotations based on specialty, location, elective type, date, etc. 
• The purpose of an away rotation varies slightly based on what specialty you are going into. Some more competitive specialties, such as dermatology and orthopedic surgery, might expect applicants to seek multiple away rotations to gain more experience in the field prior to starting a residency in that specialty. Other specialties place less importance on away rotations. For nearly all specialties, however, an away rotation serves as an audition–an opportunity for you to demonstrate your skills to a program where you might be interested in matching for residency. They can also be a great opportunity to get a vslo letter of recommendation from an attending in the specialty you are applying to.

How do I choose the right electives?

• Many students wonder how to select electives that will help with their future career goals, such as choosing between research-focused vs. clinical electives, or electives in specific specialties they are considering.
• The best electives for you are the ones that interest you the most, and will oftentimes be at a program you might be considering for residency. If there is an institution that you would really like to train at in residency, an away rotation can be a great way to get your foot in the door. For specialty-specific advice, the AAMC has collected information about specialty advice about setting up an away rotation strategy.
• Clinical electives can be a great way to gain some clinical experience in an area of medicine where you’ve had less exposure and can help you determine which aspects of a specialty interest you the most. There are fewer research electives available, but these can be a great way to make connections with faculty and boost the research section of your residency application.

What are the eligibility requirements?

• The VSLO system is only accessible to students at participating home institutions, per the VSLO website. If your school isn’t on the list, there is a process available for them to join.
• Different electives have different requirements. There are some that may be available to preclinical, clinical, or final year students only. All requirements are determined by the host institution and are typically accessible on the elective’s home page on the VSLO site. Traditional “away rotations” will usually be for students in their final year of medical school. 
• Most clinical rotations will require you to be up-to-date on TB testing and immunizations.

How do I apply for a VSLO elective?

• The application process can seem confusing. Students want to know when to apply, how to submit required documents (like transcripts or letters of recommendation), and if there are any fees involved.
• When to apply: different specialties and institutions have different timelines for applications. A good rule of thumb is to start browsing VSLO in January of your third year before you apply for residency. Most options will be visible by March or April.
• Each rotation will likely have a different date for when applications open: there isn’t a universal date when you can apply to all your rotations. For each elective that interests you, you can save it in the VSLO system. VSLO will automatically email you when your saved electives are ready to receive applications. 
• Most rotations require some basic documentation from your medical school (e.g. transcripts). Your home institution will take care of uploading documents such as your medical school transcript, letter of good standing, and malpractice certification. 
• Many, but not all, electives might require a letter of recommendation from an attending. These are also often uploaded by your home institution if you have waived your rights to read the LOR.
• The application fee for each elective is $15. If you apply for multiple date offerings for the same elective, you will only have to pay the $15 once.

What should I include in my VSLO application?

• Your personal and academic information will be the same for all electives. You’ll then add your electives and complete the specific requirements for each one.
• Some common requirements include a personal statement, curriculum vitae, letter of recommendation from an attending, STEP scores, and/or a background check.

How competitive is it to get accepted?

• Spots are limited for electives, meaning that away rotations can be competitive depending on the institution and the number of spots they have available. To maximize your chances of getting accepted, timing is absolutely crucial. Spots are often granted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Have your application ready to submit on the first day applications can be accepted, if possible!
• Your personal statement and letter of recommendation are always important aspects of your application, but for VSLO the timing becomes a really important factor in getting accepted as well. You can apply to several different institutions to increase your chances of receiving an away.

What do I need to know about the VSLO deadlines?

• Don’t wait to apply to an elective until the deadline! Plan to apply as soon as the institution is open for applications.
• As noted above, track options from January to April before your last year, as new options will populate in the system during this time. During this time, you can also work on your CV and personal statement and request your LOR. 

Can I apply for electives at multiple schools?

• You can apply to electives at as many institutions as you want. You can also apply for a variety of dates as well to increase your odds of getting multiple acceptances. Be mindful that if you receive acceptances to multiple programs for the same dates, you will have to either turn down one offer or try to negotiate different dates with the program, which may or may not be possible.
• If you are accepted but can no longer make an elective work with your schedule, be sure to let the school know in a timely manner. It is always better to decline an offer early than to accept it and then back out later.

What are the costs associated with VSLO?

• As mentioned above, the application fee for each elective is $15 on VSLO.
• Most frequently, students will be responsible for covering the costs of travel and housing on their own. Many medical schools may allow you to apply for additional loans during your fourth year to account for this. In addition, a few VSLO programs may offer some type of included or reduced-cost housing for rotating students. Be sure to look at the financial expectations for each elective.
• Rotating Room is a website where medical students and residents on away rotations can swap apartment rooms while they are out of town for a significantly decreased cost. If you don’t have family or friends where you’re going, this is a great lower cost option!
• If housing is not provided for away students, options such as long-term AirBnBs/hotels and staying with family or friends are also popular.

What if I am interested in a specific specialty or institution that isn’t listed in VSLO?

• Some students may be interested in doing a rotation outside of the VSLO network and want to know if it’s possible to arrange an elective directly with the institution or specialty.
• There are many electives that may not be listed on the VSLO system. Some hospital systems have their own application processes, and some electives can also be found through various medical societies. Depending on where you would like to rotate, it may also be possible to set up a rotation by contacting an institution directly. Be sure to read through the institution’s policies on setting up independent rotations before contacting them, though.

How does VSLO affect my residency applications?

• Many specialties encourage students to participate in away rotations to gain more experience in their desired field. They can often boost your residency application by demonstrating interest in the field, obtaining letters of recommendation and contacts, and gaining patient experiences to talk about in your personal statement and interviews.
• Performing well on an away can translate into positive remarks in your MSPE and LORs. These are often viewed highly by potential residencies, as host institutions don’t have anything to gain, per se, by raving about you in your evaluations. Your home institution has a vested interest in giving their students positive evaluations to increase their likelihood of matching–a host institution doesn’t have that same concern, so a positive evaluation on an away can really speak volumes to your skills!
• That being said, away rotations can also hurt you if you perform poorly or don’t get along well with people. It’s even more important than ever to work hard, show up early, and always be kind to everyone you work with on your aways! 

What if my school has a different process for electives?

• There can be questions about how VSLO fits with their school’s internal elective process and if they need to coordinate applications through both their home school and VSLO.
• Scheduling your fourth year electives can be a tricky and stressful process. If your school has a different process than described above for scheduling your fourth year, be sure to talk with your educational affairs staff and advisors about the best strategy for making your fourth year schedule. They will more than likely be happy to help you get the best educational experiences during your last year of medical school.

Are there other platforms? 

• While VSLO is the most well-known application portal for away rotations, there are also other ways to find the best electives for you. Some institutions may have opportunities for you to apply directly to their programs, and some specialty societies also have more information about applying to programs outside the VSLO system. If there is a specific area or hospital you are interested in, you can communicate with the program coordinator about the best way to apply. In addition, your advisor or mentor in your chosen specialty may be able to help you find other opportunities as well.

Away rotations are a great way to get your feet wet before starting residency. They are both an opportunity for you to evaluate a potential program, and for a program to get to know you better as well. They also serve as great opportunities for getting letters of recommendation and clinical experiences to use in your residency applications. Best of luck as you apply to your away rotations!